I can’t speak for who you’re replying to but having to maintain my phone like that sounds awful. I have my computer that I can endlessly tinker with—I want my phone to be a phone and just work.

This is one of the main reasons I used Windows Phone 7 phone for so many years. All of the phone features, enough smart features to make it great for work, and none of the distractions -- ironically, the things that made it a commercial failure.

Bank apps don’t work. Some enterprise security apps don’t work. Rooting is a pain, and custom boot loaders require investment of mental bandwidth that I’d much rather dedicate elsewhere. Which isn’t to say I don’t see the value of it; a couple of years ago, used to play with them. But priorities have changed, and I just want a phone that works.

Switched to iPhone after being on android all this time (with a brief dalliance with Microsoft phone on the lumia 910, which I think is still one of the best smartphone UIs) for the same reason as parent.

I'm an Android user for the ability to do this exact thing, but there's a huge difference in unofficial vs official software support. While you can certainly flash a custom ROM to an Android phone when software update support ends, clearly first party updates would be preferred, at least from a security perspective.

This is a really bold use of "just". Many people (even technically competent ones) don't want to bother, if they have other options.

As a Galaxy S8 user, I absolutely would, but I have the International Edition with a Snapdragon processor (G950U), and the only remaining (safe / reliable) root methods only apply to the models with the Exynos chip.

I was an android early adopter, had my share of custom roms and their attendant issues with drivers. Enough to me. I admire those projects, but no, thanks, I have better things to do with my time.

Translation: “now I can never use cryptocurrency apps because I compromised my own phone and others will take advantage of that when I least expect it”