/e/ Foundation sells phones with /e/OS preinstalled if you'd like an ungoogled Android phone without having to wipe the OS and install an ungoogled Android yourself.

I haven't tried /e/, I prefer installing a raw lineage with microG myself (although I don't currently use the microG part), but it seems like you and your parent commenter would be in the intended target.

I do agree that an alternative would be great. I'd gladly use Linux mobile with good, realiable hardware.

The Bliss launcher in /e/OS does not support widgets conventionally, and the best thing to do is immediately replace it. I used Lawnchair, and it did improve things.

It did encourage me to provide my Google account credentials, which I refrained to do, which made the appstore essentially equivalent to F-droid.

I can't really get excited about it.