Google Restricts Android Sideloading—What It Means for User Autonomy and the Future of Mobile Freedom – Purism

Certainly depends on where you live.

Unlocking a Samsung phone is trivial here.

I am aware, but what choices do we have? I for one stopped using banking apps in my Android phone, not a big deal, we didn't have banking apps there pre 2007 right?

I know not everyone can do it, but we can fight back in our own ways.

And voting with your wallet should be an obvious statement at this point.

Depends on the manufacturer. Ideally, they're forced to allow choice, but until that happens, we can at least prefer phones that don't lock you in.