Generic drivers have made explicit support mostly unnecessary in the desktop space. This doesn't exist on mobile. I've installed Linux effectively on many many pieces of junk whose designers never intended their hardware to be used that way.
We need hardware that doesn't need to get upgraded every two years. AOSP doesn't cut it since Google inevitably stops building isos for their hardware and the community can't support a million devices. The whole market is sorely in need of generic drivers. The fact that I can pick up a PC from the nineties and install an up to date Linux proves that we're not there yet in the mobile world.
Is there a way currently to install baremetal Linux on a phone without emulating it? A small Linux, usb microphone and VoIP would get me 90% there.