CareyPrice31 It has been working for almost 48 hours without issue, but not sure what I did, if anything, as I have been messing with it trying various combinations tips and even consulted ChatGPT ( lol )
I installed the google phone app, gave it all the permissions (Several are definitely not required, but afraid to change anything at the moment) I also signed out of Google Messages after initial setup and selected "Use without an account" I also made sure that the Play Store, Play Services, Google App, Messages, Contacts and the phone app had unrestricted background battery usage and also unrestricted mobile data usage.
If it breaks again, I am going to stick with GOS and use my work-around.
Worth noting, when I tried installing the google contacts app, my work-around broke, it would not let me remove the 3rd person from a group chat session stating in the warning that groups are for 3 or more people. If you use the GOS contacts app, messages will let you setup a group with 3 people, then remove the person you don't want to talk to from the group before sending the first message.
Oh, and I am using a Pixel 10 Pro, US Mobile Warp (Verizon) and all of this testing and such has been done over cellular data, no waifu.