Unfortunately you’re right

See, this is what I think people get wrong about ad tech: the problem are not the ads themselves, but the tracking. I’m completely fine with ads, as long as I’m not tracked by their provider

with LineageOS from day 1

Same here! I had been living with degoogled ROMs since 2013-ish and I bought the OP5T with the specific intention of using Lineage from day 1.

Nowadays I struggle to find a potential successor: I need a headphone jack (so no Fairphone, unfortunately) and that makes it waaay more difficult. Sony Xperias are probably my best shot

I’m currently using a Oneplus 5T. Released in 2017. Slapped LineageOS on it, and that bad boy is still my daily driver and one of my most prized possessions. I dread the day when it will break, but it’s not yet showing any signs of weakness