It basically copies the best of every other messaging platform. I was at my in-laws where everyone on my wife's side has an iPhone and we're talking about a LOT of the features.

• can tell if notifications are turned off on phone
• read receipts
• higher quality limit on video/pictures sent
• messaging that can be done in wifi-only areas (imagine having a few group threads/people you CANT talk to while at home because you live in a dead zone)

Any other big feature of any other messaging app I was able to think of (Signal/Whatsapp, discord, slack) is all there (except public chatrooms and private servers obvs), WITH OS integration

I still like my pixel, but I get it now.

Still holding out hope that Google allows for RCS features to come to Google voice.