All modern phones come with a locked bootloader. This is to protect the OS and the User data, preventing anyone with physical access to the devixe from reseting the device and installing their own software without permissikn. I had to unlock mine on my 1+ 7P before installing /e/OS. It might just be that carrier locked phones might need something extra to unlock them not sure.
gvasco
There's almost no risk, you can install it from the browser, the bootloader gets relocked so no issues with banking apps and rooted device, and you can still have play services on the phone but without it being able to access the whole storage and device info. You seem to literally just be spewing words without knowing anything about the subject.
If you don't want it I'd be willing to take it and experiment myself with graphene OS.
Switch to graphene OS
That's exaxtly what I was thinking
Sucks that vendors can keep such a tight control on what you can do with your device. Would be nice to have the possibility to safeguard your device with any OS of your choice.
Even when using another OS? Been trying to find info on relocking my /e/ OS install on my 1+7P and haven't had any love luck.
Many can be easily unlocked
Hadn't thought of that!
It has bridges for most messaging services so you could use a matrix frontend for most of your messaging needs without having people on matrix so long as the server admin has set up those extensions
Because there is practically no risk of damaging the device and bricking it. If you knew anything about the the distribution, it's inhalation and android you'd know that the risk is almost nonexistent and reversible. I understand you don't want to run any risk, sure, it's a valid reason, but to damage the device is practically impossible just from installing another android variant.