[OnePlus 6T  Questions & Answers] techlogik:
Problem is, the days of HTC/Google phone and Devving are long over. No more LeeDroid/Viper and really good custom Roms. Most vendors have so many different types of hardware, fingerprint scanners, cameras etc...that nobody has a good working ROM anymore due to work it takes to really customize it. Sure there are the plain Android stuff, but FPs don't work and other stuff you need.

Most manufacturers have done a good job of putting customizations into the stock builds of their product finally, really isn't much of a need to root. I only root a phone to change my Waze maps colors to match my car and get it in a dark mode. Otherwise, kind of pointless now honestly.

Which brings me to my next point, I think I'm planning on jumping ship. I have a 6T for nearly 1yr now. The last two phones are nothing really new/different/except the 90hz screen and slightly fast processor. Otherwise, no real point to buy the latest. Sadly, they are turning into a HTC. Although with better hardware/AMOLED screens when HTC still uses LCD. But, unless they start to take it up a big notch on their releases and really wow people...it is just a really good phone, with a better than normal camera and hardware for a cheaper price. But it still isn't iPhone, Samsung level...they are really 2nd tier IMHO OnePlus...just doing it for a lesser price.

Of course, I take some of that back, because now they come out with this ridiculous McClaren 5G phone for $900?!?!?! Who do they think they are, Samsung? I don't think so. Samsung is going to crush everybody again with the S11. The plus is going to be a 6.8" screen, similar to the Note, 120Hz screen, 108mbps camera...and of course that AMOLED screen and stock options you just can't beat....I mean, even Apple uses their panels for displays. And they really took it up a notch with the UI2 release.

Besides the rooting/tripping knox part....if you really need that...I don't see why people would stick with OP except for the price, and compromise somewhat. The 90hz screen scrolling is def amazing. But in about 6 months, I don't see where OP is really going with all of this. Unless they take the camera up a big step and do something with the screen, like the Pro model and do a curve like Samsung and Huawei P30 Pro etc...not sure how they are going to wow people except the hard core crowd like XDA.

It's time for a new phone for me soon. My Verizon deal ends in February/March...buy one get one...been getting bill credits on two phones for nothing..that is about the time the new Galaxy will be out. Might be a good time to upgrade to Samsung, sell one of the BOGO deal, and basically get a new phone, or switch carriers for a new phone deal and cash in etc. Doesn't really cost much to do it.

Anyway, my rant over...I'm kind of done with OP and rooting...and my phone is really for work purposes, I don't play games with it...I use it for email, internet and just fooling around with Root/stuff sometimes, otherwise, it is a work tool and daily useable phone like most people use it for.. Guess I'm getting too old......ROFL.

Like poster above, there are adblock alternatives and things you can accomplish stuff before that only was possible through Root. Where there is a will, there is a Dev work around seemingly. Except with Samsung Know or IPhone rooting etc..good luck.