Google does not let you unlock the boot loader if the device is carrier locked. It needs to get paid off and unlocked before the boot loader can be unlocked to install custom roms.
If checking their email a couple of times per year is too high a requirement, I would not recommend the time and effort necessary to maintain a mail server. Even people who enjoy self-hosting often do not want to host a mail server.
Signal still requires a phone number to use it. What they recently added is the ability to message people without needing to know their phone number.
I use Radicale for my calendars, reminders, and contacts precisely because of how minimal it is. It has been very reliable for me and is very easy to back up and restore since it is just files.
Create a different alias for everything using a service like:
Yes. With MXroute, you pay for storage and can create as many accounts, emails, aliases, etc. as you want.
If Google would have said upfront that all purchases would be refunded when Stadia shuts down, it likely would have increased confidence enough that people would actually use it.
@Matt
@lemdro.id