> I want a "phone", i.e., small form factor computer, that can run something like NetBSD, or Linux. But I have no intention of using it for commercial transactions. Mobile banking is not why I want to run a non-corporate OS
> I want to use it for recreation, research and experimentation
I am a firm believer that phones are personal computers and should have all the end user freedom we have come to expect from personal computers. I am totally behind what your saying. (The amount of irrational anger that wells up in me when I hear someone make the argument that phones are somehow not general purpose personal computers and shouldn't provider their owners software freedom would astound you.)
Personally, I opt out of services that require the use of phone "apps" and any potential attestation they provide. Unfortunately, I just offload those needs onto my wife and her iPhone.
Want to go to a concert in a TicketMaster venue? You have to have a phone. Pay to park in some places requires a phone. Mobile ordering for some restaurants requires a phone.
I don't think it should be this way, but it is. I think we need consumer regulation to insure software freedom on phones and curtail awful user hostile "features" like remote attestation.
Until that happens (if it ever does) there is a realpolitik with needing corporate phones for some activities that can't be denied.
Those things that you mentioned you can do it on the website meaning also a open computer too
So the world should cared to your needs when literally almost every adult has a phone even in third world countries?
Before you say “what about the poor people” in the US at least, even poor people can get a subsidized free phone through the UCF (?) government fund
Also see: no I’m not going to waste development time di you can get to a website I develop with JS disabled or so you can use lynx
Because phones keep tracking us and stealing our attention.
And everybody should have the option of open computer systems
So exactly how do you think an “open phone” will keep you from being tracked when you are tracked and can be triangulated via cell phone towers?