I agree for the most part. However, not all of it is bloatware.
Take the Samsung Gallery app for instance. It loads superfast, has pretty much every feature one would want in a mobile gallery app, and has a great overall UI/UX experience in comparison to anything you can get for free on Android.
To be fair: I’ve not recently looked at what free gallery apps are currently available on the Play Store, because it is that good. This is also because I have been converting my mobile devices to FLOSS apps which usually means I don’t need the to use the Play Store (through Aurora). Plus, I always had Simple Gallery installed, which is also very good, but loads slowly if you have a massive gallery like I do.
Recently here is really just in the last two years, since that’s how long I’ve had this tablet. So, not that long ago.
As far as not being just bloat is concerned, this is also true for Samsung Notes. If you’ve ever used Microsoft OneNote, you’d know it is pretty much the best notes app with its particular feature set. Samsung Notes is just as good.
In fact, a good number of their apps are actually good because the video editor, camera app, OneUI (their Android skin), their Reminder app, Secure Folder, etc. were my main apps. But, not because they came with my devices, but because they are actually great.
Pretty much everything I am using right now is a downgrade feature-wise.
I was actually considering getting a new device just to get GrapheneOS on it, but I’ve set up my phone and tablet in a way that they are far more private than when I got them.
I have a second phone from TCL (got it with my internet service for “free”) that I use as a guinea pig for the new apps and settings I never knew I could use.
Like, I thought Secure Folder was just a Samsung thing. Didn’t know “Shelter” and “Island/Insular” existed, and that I could still have a “secure folder” for separated apps and files.
Anyway, I’ve rambled on for too long now. There’s just so much freedom in using an Android device, even when it comes with lots of apps that can’t be uninstalled.
PS: Yes, I know it’s now “Fossify” Gallery, and I have the new fork installed instead. I use it in combination with Aves Gallery, which loads large galleries a lot faster than Fossify, but slower than Samsung’s built-in app.