Let's explore this a little further.

I think it is legitimate to be a purist about smartphones, but I don't think the GP is. So, let's talk about the non-purist situation: Users like us want to de-google. But we are not willing to make all of the sacrifices that purists do. The question is then, what can we use (and - what projects can we support financially).

Now, we can use GrapheneOS if we have Google Pixel's. But - most people don't have those phones, for any number of reasons. One of them is price, by the way: You can get a decent smartphone for under 100 USD and even a half-decent one for 70 USD. And most people in the world are not in an economic situation where you can tell them "shell out 300 USD and buy a Google Pixel".

Moreover - suggesting we strengthen our ties to Google in order to de-Google is fundamentally problematic. Even if we're not going all the way, we are striving to distance ourselves from them.

So, an imperfect software solution for a wider selection of phones does sound quite useful. Change my mind! :-)

Where are those decent under 100 USD unlockable smartphones?

suggesting we strengthen our ties to Google in order to de-Google is fundamentally problematic

You may have seen that they are working with Motorola to release GrapheneOS-capable phones.