If you see me on street.... Please do not approach me

objective answer= yes but not gnu, in other words just the kernel
- I would say the biggest thing that makes it not have the benefits of running Linux by choice is your lack of control (by default). You don't have root access and you aren't allowed to do much with it. The experience is much different than running Linux by choice yourself, even if the kernel is the same.
- Which is all we care about
  
  speak for yourself, it is like saying windows and reactos are the same

I've been patiently waiting for advancements in true Linux phones for years. I feel like a hypocrite when using android. Anyone know if pinephone is nearing a new release?
- Android is a true Linux.
  
  Eh, it depends how you define Linux. Android uses a modified Linux kernel, but most of what's above that is different. By the point you're at the application layer they're basically completely incompatible.
  Is it technically Linux? Yeah but it's so different from a user's perspective it's best to treat them as separate imo.

The way I see it is Android users are Linux users the same way fans of games who have only played the spin-off games are to people who have played the mainline games. They're just a different kind of fan.
- You claim you've never liked Final Fantasy and yet I can clearly see a copy of Chocobo Dungeon in your Dreamcast.
- It's like main game vs mobile adaptation of 2010's era.

Android and chromeos are as much Linux as macOS and iOS are FreeBSD
- Android and ChromeOS are more Linux than MacOS and iOS are a FreeBSD. Apple closed the source quite a while ago and they have their own fork which I bet is very far away from the original now.
  
  But don't they have to publish the changes they make the to kernel and or GNU-Tools since they distribute the compiled versions of it (License Wise)?
  Furthermore I remember seeing some activity at their GitHub page for the/some kernel but I may be mistaken.

You can kinda sorta run Linux userspace on Android, with a bit of compatibility layer.

F-droid
Additionally the Android kernel is so heavily modified that you can't just make a phone run Linux

Yes, it’s only elitists that say otherwise but we can disregard them
- No. It's technically Linux, but has none of the benefits that are suppose to come with Linux.
  
  Which are?
  I really want to know! I am using both but wouldn't call me an expert. There is still much to learn.