Isn't it possible, however complicated, for users to undo the lockdown to install an app? The required 9 steps are noted at https://keepandroidopen.org/ for devices that use Google Play Services.

Irrespective, people should probably be migrating to a GrapheneOS or similar OS asap once the OS ships with a device.

Ah this is good to know. Awful it's required, but glad there is a work around.

Honestly not as bad as I feared it would be. Still not great and it's moving us farther from the idea that people who paid for the device should be allowed to install what they want on it, but as it stands it's a workable process. We'll see how quickly it takes Google to make it worse

no root on graphene, non starter