Yeah their hardware was overpriced and I couldn't find any justification for their prices being higher than "well but we're independent and our hardware is aesthetically pleasing"
Like... I get why Teracube and Fairphone are expensive for their specs. But Nothing gave me cryptobro vibes
The thing is... Fair phone is how expensive all phones their capability should be. Its just that most phones are greed machines produced via the exploitation of labor
Stock android doesn't really exist. It barely works and is missing essential features like working Bluetooth audio. It's intended as a starting point for companies to build their own experience on top of, if any company released a phone running anywhere near stock android they would be laughed out of existence. Linus Tech tips did a pretty good overview of what stock android is a few days ago https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-hlRB2izres
Sure, but that's not really what people mean when they talk about "stock android". Generally it means a version you would find on a Pixel or Xperia phone, the bare minimum basically without complete overhauls like OneUI etc.
That version doesn't exist is what I'm saying. The manufacturers have to put in significant work to get it to that point. And along the way they have to choose to make it similar to pixel/what people expect "stock" android to look like, instead of putting their own flair on it. My point is that it takes just as much work to make an android skin that feels "stock" as to make one that doesn't. You can't dismiss their version of Android as being "stock" because that doesn't exist.