Google hardware provides the most bang for buck for development, easy to install, fast and widely available. Go try a pinephone you will come back to Google quickly. The satslink looks interesting strip the supercomputer and go back to absolute basic communication device.
Discussion
Agreed, I'm making the case for more options. I think it's silly that there are so few options that don't require Google to have a smartphone in 2023. I also just don't like the Pixels, just a personal thing. I'm also considering basic options. I barely use a web browser on my phone. It receives calls (i don't usually answer them) and it also receives SMS which I refuse to respond to. I do stream music from my media server though, but I could work around that. GPS is nice once and a while, but I will often print directions because service usually sucks.