> nor do I want that from them.

This perspective I can't wrap my head around. Like I get that you wouldn't use it, and that's fine - but if Linux was available and we made it incredible, that would push Apple (and Google) to do better. So you'd get a better MacOS / iOS by proxy.

Like, don't we want competition? What motivates people to desire an unchallenged status quo?

Those that want to sell Linux powered phones should make their own stores, and folks like yourself should support them, when they do open such stores.