Here is what GrapheneOS thinks about it, and I have to say I agree.

I hope this picks up. Apps dependent on google services for no reason are such a pain.

Do I get this right? A hand full of OS devs who also sell phones form a group that attests combinations of phones and certified copies of their OSs as secure?
Sounds like self-verifying the own ecosystem of devices and OSs in a cartel-like consortium. But wasn’t that to be circumvented? Shouldn’t the certifying body be independent of the certified products?

I am having questions.

hopeful