>> they do not actually give the user access to general purpose computing in the sense that the users can control exactly what computations the device is going to execute

i don't think we were talking about grandma use case

Its hyperbolic but hits the point.

I've helped multiple coworkers (in a non-computer related field) sideload F-Droid for a few spyware/ad free apps they liked the look of.

Id sideload my own phone using adb but I'd tell them theyre out of luck.