I think a Linux phone probably appeals to the same kind of person who prefers real keys over digital ones.

I'm that kind of person, but my opposition to the "digital key" things like this is mainly about them being out of my control and not having the ability to opt out of user-hostile activity. With a digital key, I expect things like the parent said: being forced to use proprietary corporate apps, facing random limitations like maybe the key stops working if you lose internet connection (or when Cloudflare decides to block you, or anything like this), useless error messages that don't let me know if I can resolve something easily myself, and such things. I do use and like the "digital key" things sometimes, when they are as free and reliable as the "physical key".

More like those that make copies of their physical keys at home, after having analysed dozens of key cutting machines for that exact purpose.

Or most banks, government apps, and so on. Which all require an app to login, rather than support any open and actually secure standard.

Governments that require any particular device, OS, or 3rd-party platform have sold your citizenship to private interests.

But what's your choice as a citizen then - emigrate from your country due to apps?

Show up to the government office. Say you don't have a compatible phone. Wait until they find a solution for you.

I guarantee the government is not forcing 95-year-old Betsy in bumfuck nowhere with no cell coverage to learn how to use a phone. They have some solution, they're just not making it obvious.

I'm in the process of buying a house, and getting some support from my Dad. AML checks required by app for both of us, he hated it.

I just called the solicitor, said "my Dad hates the app", they immediately presented an alternative.

And generally, 99% of stuff exists in browser. My phone is for messaging, photos, and reading, very little else.

My government's solution to this, is a physical office, where they will file the paperwork for you. You may have an average wait time of four hours to be seen, and so must devote an entire working day to the effort, but can submit without a phone.

I thought I would miss google wallet but after 2 years of using graphene I came to the conclusion that it is easy to live without it.

A non problem imho.

What about real keys?

a technology of bygone times. we shall preserve it

If I had a car with that feature and no clear way to permanently disable it, I would take it back.

Can't you use an open-source wallet app? F-Droid seems to have a bunch of them.

FWIW I think tesla app works fine on Graphine/Lineage OS as a digital key where the BMW system (and maybe other MFGs) use something with Google Wallet which requires something with Google Play Services to work.