So I wonder what alternatives to iPhone or Mac would you recommend? It seems to me that neither Google nor Microsoft is doing better. Google appears to prioritize ad-revenue over user experience, and Microsoft is following in that direction too.

I quit daily-driving macOS in 2017 and Windows in 2019, GNOME on Linux does everything I need.

Smartphones are a bit harder, but it's still possible to flash a Google-free ROM onto many Android phones. If push comes to shove, I could also see myself dailying a PostmarketOS-style handheld for basic SMS, auth and music player capabilities.

i am downgrading to a semi-dumb phone. maps, email, calls and text. thats all you need. unfortunately nobody makes a full keyboard dumb phone anymore

That's a bold move. I use whatsapp and apple pay so it's hard to find an dalternative. Which phone are you using? I’d love to hear how it compares to a smartphone in actual day-to-day use.