I'm from the UK where chip and pin is required and contactless is nearly ubiquitous so when I was in the US recently I was baffled that a lot of places had me signing for things.
I'm in California and it's been years since I've been somewhere that didn't have Apple/Google Pay at the register. I don't shop there but Walmart is the only place I know of that doesn't have it (because they track users via credit card).
The only real annoying thing here is that restaurants still take your card instead of bringing the machine to your table like they do in Canada and Europe.
Note 9 was a beast, but Id argue Note 4 was the GOAT.
Replaceable battery with removable back cover so you could even get an extended battery or fancy case that integrated itself into the phone, headphone jack, SD slot, physical home button, notification LED, no camera cut outs, etc.
Can't deny that was an awesome phone, I'm just super partial to the powerhouse that was the note 9, from the OLED screen to the most satisfying fingerprint reader I've ever used, that phone was perfect to me. I am also very happy with my Pixel 7 Pro, but it's a new game now.