@switchingsocial@mastodon.at @masterofthetiger@theres.life I'm using it on a Galaxy S7. As you said, it's likely the least bad option for nontechnical folks. The main proprietary parts I've noticed so far are the Maps application (actually "Magic Earth") and the "Apps" version of the app store that includes and promotes proprietary applications by default.
That said, there is no better shipping option that I've found. Once the LibreM 5 or the PinePhone are released that might change