How can we break past Apple and Google?

There are 3rd party app stores. Reddits piracy subreddit had a thread on it the other day. I think they were saying F-droid and Aurora are the popular examples.
- Just clarifying that neither F-Droid nor Aurora have anything to do wirh piracy.
  F-Droid is for open source software and while yes, some of the apps are replacements for that wouldn't fly in the app store (NewPipe, Spotube), they are not pirated or piracy tools.
  Aurora is just a front-end for Play store that mainly allows you to download free apps without a Google account.
- Obtainium as well is useful
  https://obtainium.imranr.dev/
  Obtainium allows you to install and update apps directly from their release pages, and receive notifications when new releases are made available.
  The app supports over a dozen source websites, including GitHub, GitLab, and F-Droid.
  
  It's actually very nice and functional for the apps that are relevant.
- Aurora is just an anonymous front-end to google play store.
  
  Gasp! A shiny rare suppo.fi user!
- Most third party app stores suck on stock Android. Even GrapheneOS doesn't recommend using them. Don't get me wrong, I love F-Droid, Aurora Store, and Obtanium, but without integrating them as system apps or Shizuku, updating apps sucks ass. It is also much harder to detect if an app author were to become malicious with things like Obtanium, and even Aurora has the potential to have it's anonymous accounts become compromised and create "fake" apps that appear legitimate from the developer console. The most promising option is always going to be something completely independent from Android, like PureOS.

Been looking at Linux Mobile OSs and while they’re not perfect replacements they’re something cool to look at.
- I just learned that Fairphone (Dutch company) apparently is 100% compatible with Ubuntu Touch now. I have an FP4, but don't dare replacing CalyxOS just yet - but I'm looking for a used Fairphone now to try it out with, if I can find one cheap enough.
  From their own words: "The Fairphone 4 in combination with Ubuntu Touch is currently the best option, if you value sustainability, fair trade materials, repairability and independency from Google and the Android operating systems."
- I've tried postmarketOS with Phosh briefly, and while it's not in my use yet (I have an irrational fear of WebDAV but need my NextCloud), it looks rather "non-blinged" but functional.

I use F-droid, it's FOSS apps only. It's great, but unfortunately I stil have to use play store for non-FOSS apps.
- Nice, it’s like Codeberg in that aspect!

I think to truly break out of US controlled operating systems is to be able to run the proprietary apps/programs, that people depend on, on an open source operating systems they don’t control.
While ideally people shouldn’t be dependent on this proprietary software, due to unchecked monopoly behavior, consumers don’t have many choices, especially in mobile.
There has been success with Valve and the Steam Deck. While they are still a US company, they have hugely pushed forward running Windows games on Linux to the point where you don’t need to use Windows unless you want to play games that require anti-cheat.

I haven't used either in 3 years

This is what my wife and I did, buy two murena Fairphone 5's. Flash /e/os (not as hard as it sounds, you can even do it from a browser window) add F-droid.
We've had a few things that wont work and there doesn't appear to be a workaround really. But otherwise we're living the degoogled life.
Not working: Android auto MyQ Google Wallet
- I use MyQ, but can live without it and it's a shitty app anyway. Not sure why even bother having a smart phone without Wallet and Auto though. Unless you live in a city where nobody drives and everyone still takes cash?
  
  To be honest, not having tap to pay is a pain but not a dealbreaker. I can still use my bank card to tap.
  Not having android auto is annoying, but only one of my cars even has it. So already used to not using it.
  MyQ Maybe has a workaround, I've found Zwave garage door openers that I can hook to my home automation which should solve that. Just gotta spend the $$

I get everything from neostore, where you can install custom repositories and I get all my f-droid apps in there so I don't have to have 6174728 appstores.