I agree. Probably best consumer-level router OS

iirc fritz-os was very much based on openwrt, same as most homerouters

Not sure that is the case. Most use Linux.

openwrt indeed uses the linux kernel

Yes. That does not make Fritzos a fork or continuation of OpenWrt.

true. thou the second part of your comment sounds like you are saying that openwrt and linux have little in common.

They're the only home routers I've ever owned which aren't constantly failing in some way. It's a shame they're only really available in Germany (and I guess Austria).

I’ve seen FritzBoxes in a computer shop in Spain as well. Don’t know how wide-spread they are in Spain however.

I'm in the UK and use Zen Internet as my ISP. Zen distribute a FRITZ!Box 7530 as their home router [1].

I was sufficiently pleased by the FRITZ!Box that I bought a 2nd one to extend the wifi in my home - very easy to do with the fritz devices.

[1] https://www.zen.co.uk/broadband/broadband-router

Can confirm they are in use down here in Australia. I know someone who just upgraded their 7490 to a 7590 due to compatibility changes with our National Broadband Network (enablement of SOS-ROC).

I brought mine over from the UK for use here in Germany and just upgraded. Sadly it seems their extenders are only available with EU plugs so I'll have to send some back for my parents, they really are that hassle free that it's worth the effort.