If I pay this kind of money, I expect an API to user-respecting third party apps.

That's what they should do. Allow use of Reddit-style third party apps (before the API debacle) for premium users.

I've been having playable framerates but they're not improving. On a 10k city I get about 45fps average but I frequently experience frame drops which definitely make it less enjoyable to play the game. My specs are Ryzen 9 5900HX, RX6800M, 32GB RAM

I think the performance issue is not at all overblown, but the complaints about stripped features are overblown. The game is more complex than the original, but it does run like dogcrap right now.

I'm being as safe as I can. I'm ATGATT and I started on a beginner bike without much power.

They still allow sideloading through F droid and the like, as long as the app is specifically made for a newer Android version. There is a prompt to confirm (as with the Google Play Store), but this is good because it makes the user aware that they are installing an app.

Same here, why I went with a motorcycle instead lol

I've heard of it but never actually used it. Is it much faster than Steam?

2TB SSD. I hate running out of storage.

Probably Beam.NG drive for me. Highly rated driving/racing game on Steam, and I thought I'd like it because it's like Forza Horizon 4 or 5 but more realistic. Unfortunately, maybe I'm used to Forza but the controls are janky and the UI is clunky. The mods I've tried are fun for a few minutes but gimmicky.

Whenever I get the itch to drive a virtual car with my controller, I just fire up Forza Horizon 5.

Perhaps the game will come around to me down the line if I want more pure simulation or more fun with mods.

When they updated the privacy policy to start spying on voice calls.

Not all parents really choose to live in a place like Florida. Sometimes they have to go where the jobs are. Maybe they can't afford a place like California. And remember there are more people in Florida who voted for Biden than in Massachusetts.

+1 to the last part.

I hate that you can be perpetually paying a company, but you also are still the product. I'm pretty sure it's like this with just about every subscription.