It's possible to be aware that ultimate security is compromised by CPU and modem backdoors while stil desiring slightly greater privacy and security with regards to OS and reporting to remote services.
It's a threat model compromise thing. GrapheneOS is better than stock Google Android, but it's not a silver bullet that solves the hardware issue. You're sort of constructing a straw man here, no?
No, I am not constructing a straw man. I got banned from both projects' official chats for talking about hardware backdoors lol
I recognize in my articles that they're useful alternatives to getting no more updates for outdated devices, but if they had people in their chat who frequently call bullshit on any lies about what a custom android ROM can actually do, that would make them a little less sus to me, and it might also result in them having fewer developers or users or something.
Addendum - the issue probably wouldn't be a shrinking amount of developers or users, but a shrinking amount of careless handling of sensitive data on user devices.
No, just a statement of fact really, it is a vulnerability.
But if you are that much of a target then you need something else, none or need to use it in such a way that it misdirects.
