[OnePlus 10T 5G] centifanto:
I appreciate the candor of OP @seanwlk , and can agree that the industry has become very hostile to the types of people like us who frequent XDA and mod our phones. I also place at the top of my list the requirement to have an easy unlocked bootloader to root.

That being said, I can't help but sense a little over the top reactions from everyone in the forums as well as YouTubers complaining about OnePlus. Full disclosure I have been using OnePlus since the 3T, but I am not a 1+ employee or shill, and I too was frustrated initially and tried out the Pixel 6 before returning it and coming back to 1+. The alternative besides 1+ and Pixel is the Sony Xperia. But the Xperia is way overpriced and overheats, plus is a hassle to root. But it is a great looking phone, and has expandable storage and a headphone jack.

Reasons I returned to OnePlus and rejected Pixel (caveat: both being equal in terms of bootloader unlock and rooting support)

Gestures. Screen off media controls, flashlight, three finger screenshot, ect....have tried Motorola, Essential, HTC, Sony.....OnePlus does it the best IMO. Didn't realize how much I used these and would miss them

Only Android to have an alert slider (and yes I know the 10T doesn't, but they recently revealed they don't plan on keeping it permanently removed. Dumb move IMO to remove it at all, but at least they will be bring it back). This is a big reason I went with the 10 Pro

Hands down, the best fast charging, both wired and wireless. Didn't realize how much it

Other small tweaks, like the native ability to hide status bar icons, the OnePlus font, layout of settings.

Also, I personally don't understand the hate for the influences of ColorOS. I find the larger UI is easy to press and navigate, especially from the notification shade when out and about in sunlight. I don't mind the "new" OOS. But again, to each their own.

That's why I went with a 10 Pro: Metal and IP68, plus it has the alert slider which the 10T doesn't.

Most phone companies started doing this 5 years ago after Apple started the insanity, not a OnePlus unique complaint

Super easy fix I used awhile back --> Oxygen AOD Mod

Hmm I didn't realize people still preferred buttons instead of gestures (which I prefer). To each their own

Totally can disable this in the settings....

I am sure someone has a Magisk module that disables this. Also, why not just use the GOAT launcher Nova?

Nova solves all of this.....lets you use Legacy icons and disable the "Reshape" BS that Android now does to icons.

Yes, the placement of fingerprint reader on the 1+9 I agree it's a little lower than I would have liked, but it's not that bad, right? I just decided to get used to it since I couldn't change it. Didn't ever really bother me. And now I use the 10 Pro which is placed higher

I was under the impression this is a toggleable option to turn on/off

Agree it is dumb they don't have the OTAs available. Hopefully they're just late to post? OxygenUpdater is my current workaround.

The specs we have in flagships are so overpowered for most tasks IMO. Unless someone is a major mobile gamer.....but that is not me at all, nor most I suspect

How "stock"? Because I used the Pixel 6 for a week and was seriously underwhelmed with the lack of features....especially not having screen off gestures and such.....stock Android is lacking IMO

Another super easy fix if a notification dot is mandatory feature to you --> aodNotify