What's the best strategy for changing to GrapheneOS?
I have a google pixel, and I know I could install grapheneOS on it. But I'm very, very hesitant, since I depend so much on my phone.
This isn't like distro hopping, where I feel more comfortable hot swapping ssds, or making partitions, or using my desktop while I tinker with my laptop. My phone has a SIM and the service I depend on can't be emulated off this phone.
So what do you recommend I do? Should I move my SIM (my phone service, really) to a new phone while I tinker with this one? Can I just blow up the current OS and wing it? Or maybe theres another option that would allow me to bail back to stock android in case something goes wrong. What do you think?
EDIT: how I use my phone: about everything I use is from fdroid, with the occassional app from aurora. I do use my banking app to cash checks, but I don't use whatsapp, google pay, which I know arent compatible. So as far as app compatibility I dont think it'll be a problem, Im mostly worried about my phone number not working. I dont know how SIMs work like I should, I just know Ive had the strangest issues in the past with it, so Im hesitant. Thanks for the replies so far.
It's always funny to me when people wave away tap to pay like losing it is nothing.
It's my number 1 practical use case for my phone. My commuter card is stored there for example. I use it as often as I take photos at this point: I might take a dozen photos on the weekend but I commute every day.
Cash only. I need very little in life other than food and clothing. I changed countries, which makes it easier, though paying by phone is very much becoming a thing.
I have no interest in being known for anything, my life is simple but not easy. The more I am off the radar the less I have to interact with others. That works better for me than being in the midst of things. Different use cases.
ETA : I donate to FOSS projects I use, for that I find someone (never the same person twice) and pay them to donate to the developer. That is about my only outside expense.
Is having contactless payments in your phone really that critical though? If you have one of those wallet-style phone cases with the slots for cards then you can just put your card in there and basically achieve the same effect!
Oh weird, never heard of any bank not providing a card before. Open another account with a bank that gives you one if you can be bothered, but I completely understand if most people can't be!