They will have to offer iMessage compatibility to get me to switch back to android. I only have an iPhone because almost everyone in my life uses iMessage.
Apple is the problem and they are intentionally blocking this compatibility to keep you in their walled garden ecosystem.
One of many great reasons I avoid the company, I'm no fan of Google but I'm even less enthusiastic about being manipulatied by unnecessary restrictions.
Some months ago, in email transcripts between Apple employees from years ago, they were discussing about the possibility of bringing iMessage to Android but ultimately decided against it because it was the product that kept users locked in to their iPhones. It isn't a technological problem to bring iMessage but a corporation-al one.
Unfortunately it's not up to Google to get Apple to open their walled garden. Regulation is what is needed here. The EU's DMA rightfully considers Google a gatekeeper in the Ads, Search, and Browser business. It's a joke they're still considering if Apple is a gatekeeper with regard to iMessage for messaging.
Apple has removed your ability to choose for yourself what to buy because of their strong grip with iMessage.
Google has no ability to offer iMessage compatibility as it's locked down by Apple. Allegedly Apple devs had a version of iMessage ready to launch on Android and the Apple execs decided to kill it because they felt that keeping iMessage exclusive to Apple would keep users locked in, which clearly they were right about. I'm not interested in a discussion over which phone is better than the other but I don't care for the false narrative that Google is the one keeping iMessage off of Android.