When your friends look at phones you think are expensive, that is their choice.
You understand you are not a good user, but you want justification
for every scenario you can come up with.
The model is working just fine, the approach is sound, and the OS progresses in directions people want it to.
You have no plan. You parted with your money.
Where are you happy in any scenario?
Your friends can buy cheap devices with UBPorts on it?
That is what the market does.
Price goes down, the amount of players go up, and the OS improves over time.
There are a lot of things to do about the OS.