Persuading Google and everybody else relevant that this was not a SIM hijack (new phone, same number, old phone was totally bricked so couldn't help, other non-work PCs were hours away) was not easy but I wouldn't want it to be.

In Japan and other places of the world the whole thing is over a hundred bucks more expensive than retail. Over a 1000 dollars for a phone?

I'd rather buy an iPhone then. I ended up getting a second hand iPhone 8 for $250 as second device instead. Most of it better than most previous year android flagships and dirt cheap with 97% battery capacity.

I'm trying really hard to keep my "freedom" on android devices, but what the actual f. The only reasonably priced flagship CPU devices are from Xiaomi.

Most companies either don't have the ability to unlock the bootloader anymore or brick some random thing of the device or software if you do. Yeah sure the pixel does that and has good source code support, but over 1000 USD for 128 GB? Apple devices have better value for money and you won't have to play lottery about whether the next two android updates will actually work properly.

I got one after having iPhones since the Nexus 3 (I think), and I'm quite happy with it. It cost me 300 euro, and it feels like it can handle everything I need. I specifically went for the Pixel 3A because leaving the Apple ecosystem I wanted the alternative that is most likely to be stable, updated, and not filled with crapware. so far I have no complaints, and I even prefer much of this new phone over my previous iPhones (iPhone 7, iPhone 5S before that).

Anecdata is weird when it comes to mobile devices. It seems that some phones are really not created equal to others in the same production run. I presume it's sort of like processor binning, but not actually tested in the factory. Every now and then a customer gets a phone that performs perfectly, and the battery lasts for over a decade (obviously with recharging!) ;-)

I also bought an iphone 7 three years ago and it was working fine with 85% battery life, before I broke the screen and replaced it.

Before phone, I was using Samsung phones exclusively, S4, Note 4 etc, they all died within two years.

Not sure what you are talking about. If I google buy google pixel outside of the US it takes me to this where I can select my region. I includes many regions/countries outside of the US.