Relocking the bootloader doesn't imply that verified boot is enabled or that that it's not broken for alternate OSes, as is the case for the devices you mentioned.
> It's a privacy-focused ROM that still integrates microG, so it's compatible with most apps (unlike the other popular privacy-focused ROM GrapheneOS [2] which doesn't support microG).
> I have also considered the “freedom phone”. But my understand is it’s just Graphene + process isolation on a slightly modified hardware.
No, it's not. You may be confusing it with another company with a similar name selling devices with GrapheneOS and various apps installed.
Both are not associated with GrapheneOS, by the way.
WhatsApp works fine including its push notifications, you can download it from their website or via Aurora Store.
The AOSP Camera app is not as good as Google Camera but you can install it if you want. It requires Play services but you can install that too including in a dedicated user profile so other apps like WhatsApp don't use it unnecessarily.
It doesn't actually hide apps with "anti-features", you can still see them by default. The only thing it does is hide the description and install button of apps with "anti-features" in the search screen. It seems like a half-baked feature.
> Google is doing their level best to make it harder to get APKs any other way. You used to be able to download them from the store; no longer possible.
They are making it easier with Android 12 by letting third-party stores do automatic updates without user interaction, not harder.
It has always been the case that OEMs need to bundle Play Services in the OS and that you need an account to access Google Play. Some OEMs like Samsung and Huawei bundle their own store, "the store" isn't a thing. Raccoon, Yalp Store, Aurora Store, etc. to access Google Play have always existed too.
> They've announced some other package format, support for which I assume won't be released to AOSP.
It's not a new format, it's open source and Aurora Store and other stuff supports it just fine. It's not locked to Google Play.
https://twitter.com/GrapheneOS/status/1424412990074494979