So I've been using GOS for a week now (thanks to ThePrimeagen's review of Pewdiepie's video) and I'm hooked!
First of all kudos to the maintainers of the installation part - I have never have a smoother experience in installing any os ever be it windows (duh) or linux (even arch) - it's so easy it's mindblowing.
- I was lucky that my banking apps work (I use two and even though both gave me more hassle than usually because both detected a modified OS, I still got around to make them work) - but if you're interested in switching maybe make sure that's the case as I'd assume it's a bit of a deal breaker if it doesn't
- FOSS alternatives to google services are SO UNDERRATED - I mean I'm ashamed that I didn't even care to bother in the past but even sth as simple as FUTO Keyboard is SO MUCH BETTER than any Samsung keyboard or gboard or whatever and really it's a shame I only got interested in what's available on FDroid now
- I'm learning a lot of how certain apps are depending on google services for apparently NO VALID REASON - frankly I started hating WhatsApp even more than before. For telegram I use Forkgram and for Signal I use Molly. With the GeoShare extension I also get localization directly in openmap format so I can easily open them in OrganicMaps
- OrganicMaps is one of the underrated apps for sure it's so good. In case you still need gmaps there's a web wrapper around it available on F-droid
- Running VPN all the time doesn't drain battery - even moderate to intense usage throughout the day didn't get me lower than 20% by end of day
- The possibility to add multiple users is so good. I added a sandbox one for the few apps I didn't manage to get to work without google services but I only used them very sporadically and I switch that user off right away once I'm done. I also created a work profile with only work-related apps and it's awesome wince they see it basically as a different phone
There's still a but of tinkering when you don't really know what you're doing but honestly I was expecting it to be much harder BUT IT'S NOT. What really motivated me was my growing hatred towards google when I saw how good a phone can be without their spyware and bloat on it
10/10 would recommend