1. Regarding Google Maps, you might wanna try "Here WeGo" which is by a company in the Netherlands and more privacy friendly than Google.
2. If your primary goal is security and privacy, GrapheneOS is your best choice. LineageOS is good, if your device does not support GOS; I have no experience with /e/OS in terms of usage.
3. On Google Pixels it is possible through official methods to install Stock OS again, same for Fairphone. I don't know about other devices.
4. Alternative Android Distributions like GOS, LOS and /e/OS won't be affected, except if you install Google Play Services (and related), though GrapheneOS will likely limit it with their sandboxed method if you do so.

Thanks for sharing, awareness matters.

I can recommend following tools:

https://github.com/xM4ddy/OFGB (Non tech savvy friendly) https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 (Beginner friendly) https://privacy.sexy/ (Advanced)

Please make sure to verify which changes you do and what possible side effects they could have.

and is legally fighting any order they receive.

I don't think a provider should fight any order, especially if the chance of success is low or basically zero. It's also very expensive. A provider that doesn't have the data in the first place, is legally speaking better.

Germany, since I'm a German citizen and know my local rights and laws better than anywhere else. Also easier to take legal action against the company if they they mess up.

I've read almost every drama-related post from the official GrapheneOS account since I researched this whole thing.

And they almost NEVER provide sources. The only exceptions I can think of right now were the cases with Rob Braxman and the French newsletter. That's the only time they actually provided a source.

You didn't even understand the context. It's about a law that already passed as temporarily and is about to run out.

No, that has changed since almost 3 years.

Source: https://www.waterfox.com/blog/a-new-chapter-for-waterfox/

Please verify before you accidentally spread misinformation.

What other hardware do you trust, if any?

Fingerprinting is a very difficult topic. A lot on how their algorithms and tech actually works is obfuscated and hidden from the people's eye. I will be totally honest with you, I don't think changing ur timezone will gian you much benefit, it might even make you stick out more since it doesn't correlate with other information like your IP address, preferred language, etc.

There has been a browser extension that set ur browser values to match the IP address region, but it's now history sadly.

Overall, I think if cchanging your timezone will benefit or harm you, comes down to very specific adversaries.

Share the audit then, not the tomsguide article.

Audit can be easily accessed here: https://protonvpn.com/blog/no-logs-audit

If you don't give information to Proton AG which they can be legally forced to hand over, you're alright.