> Is it possible to install the Google Play Store?

There are many apps from great free software repositories such as https://f-droid.org that many people may want to use. Further, many apps from Google Play can be installed without the Google Play store.

Btw, if alternative stores like F-Droid are not going to do it for you, you can always get your own phone whitelisted: https://www.google.com/android/uncertified/

Google is mainly concerned about uncertified phones being distributed at a large scale. For individual tinkerers, this feature is offered to get individual phones permitted.

There are several sources for easily installing the Google apps including the play store on non certified Android distributions.

What does the security/reliability look like when using some of these methods though?

It's very easy and very well tested so it's probably secure. Installing GApps is a really common step when loading a custom ROM onto phones. It shouldn't be any different here.

The codesigning system for APKs is considered secure, and in fact the Google Apps public key signatures are embedded into Android itself instead of just being the normal TOFU (this is why MicroG requires a whole separate ROM instead of just a flashable zip).

FWIW it's pretty straightforward to copy an app from a phone to an .apk file on a Linux machine using adb, so if you have an Android device, you can always install from the Play Store on your phone

Yeah, or you could also use a trusted APK repository like APKMirror, no phone required.

What's the issue? It's the same deal as with any phone you install custom software on.

> This sounds great until you read the FAQ:

This is great exactly for that reason. Although it may seem strange, many of us would use Android just because they're forced to use that one or two apps, not because they need the whole system. In my case, I have absolute zero needs for Android, except for opening Whatsapp like 3 times a week for a few minutes. Since Whatsapp web is a joke that would force me to even keep a smartphone around, I'm currently keeping home an Android tablet just for that app I use a few minutes per week, which is also less than optimal. Hopefully one day the Pinephone (I'm seriously considering to purchase one) will allow Android virtualization, so I'll be able to move a minimum virtualized Android system dedicated to Whatsapp onto that phone and ditch the poor tablet for good.

I stand corrected, I have little experience Android. Good to know.