The Tensor is a capable soc but not as snappy as I would like compared to Snapdragon. Your point stands, though.

I mentioned it in a comment below. But that also depends on how the used market works where you live. To buy something privacy-minded used, I'd have to buy it either from a meatspace vendor I can check myself, or from an online vendor that will take cash in split payments and has a verifiable history in the platforms I trust.

I mean, you could buy used, but if you are going for privacy you lose a number of assurances from doing that.

at keast encourage those going this way so e/os can grow big enough to work with a manufacturer to make their own phone

Graphene is doing this already. They announced a partnership with an Android OEM to produce a GrapheneOS phone some time in 2027.

But that means making new phoens and getting them to market (and then to an affordable price), right?

If I was to make a deal with a manufacturer it'd be about releasing the relock keys for the firmware on extant builds, since there's a reasonable overlap between people who want to go to a phone for getting outside the Google / Apple ecosystems and people who want to get their already extant devices to last.

apple fanbois everywhere using whatabouitism to justify their shitty stance /s

Just buy a used phone ffs or at keast encourage those going this way so e/os can grow big enough to work with a manufacturer to make their own phone