I am not impressed by the Pixels. They take away key differentiators that made Android the better choice in the past -- microSD slot, and now the headphone jack -- and are pitched mostly on their "AI" apps.

Add to this the current drama with the XL 2 having burn-in screen issues on week one and IMO Google shot themselves in the foot.

Eh I find the voice assistant to be much better than Siri, and their preemptive AI assistance to be pretty spot on. Given the strengths of the two company, I think this gap will grow. Conversely, Apple is obviously much better at hardware and they have better taste when it comes to design. It depends on what you care about.

Voice assistants, hm. Knowing Google and Amazon and having in mind their history, I won't trust them not eavesdropping on me and my wife having sex, ever.

I do care about privacy. Google and Amazon care about data collection and ad dollars. They'll do absolutely anything to get those, including stuff we find amoral. Most businesses are like this: "it ain't illegal if you don't get caught". Please deny it! ;) I think we all know it's true. History has shown it time and again.

Simple math, really. I am not losing anything in my life if I spend 20 seconds typing a query in a browser. I don't need to order goods with my voice. Voice assistants have a few good uses but in 90% of the time they are a solution looking for a problem.

I get that some folks feel special and living in the future but that's hardly worth giving up your privacy at your own home.

As you said -- personal priorities.