I'm out of Google for so long I had no idea how 'protective' their data silos have become. Simply login and download stuff? Get stuffed:

I installed GrapheneOS, the few apps she needs, and finally was about to download contacts and the WhatsApp backup - from Google Drive, as simple local backups seem to be impossible now.

Little did I know Google doesn't allow simple logins with email and password anymore, it demands a confirmation from a device they already know, the un-degoogled (neologism lvl 9000) Pixel. That doesn't exist anymore, so I needed to load the Google App and original Play Store back into GrapheneOS and give them full permissions so Google can send their ping through the phone. That's a >1.5GB installation and it comes with the Voice Assistant spyware. Because I unsuccessfully tried to login 3 times, with correct password mind you, just trying different confirmation options and varying degrees of permissions, Google decided I need to wait "for a few hours" to try again. 3 hours penalty!

What did we learn?

Tread your departure from big tech like you would end a toxic relationship with a violent partner. Get everything out the apartment that you need, take everything from the accounts that is yours, take custody over everything you can get your hands on, get a new email, and then just disappear and you never come back.