The over-reliance on apps and the privacy/security implications that entails is a separate issue for me. I also don't have the Google Play Store (or the associated underlying services) that all the apps require to function on my phone (CalyxOS). Comcast was decertifying my ancient modem so I finally bought a new one. When I needed to swap the hardware id info over and called their support line all of their workflows now apparently rely on using their app. When I told them it was between them supplying me with a vanilla smartphone or me cancelling my service because I didn't own any devices that supported their app they were then magically able to just update some fields in their database and my modem was set-up with no mobile phones or apps involved. I've had a passion for technology my entire life but its current predatory and user hostile default state just makes me hate it.