EmailMask08 As I have read on this sub, switching to a new OS will wipe all data on the phone. I am switching from an iphone, so should I do the transfer process, back up data, install GOS, then load that data on the new OS? I am not quite sure what this process would look like and how I actually would backup then load the data onto the new OS?
You cannot "bulk" backup your phone and restore it on GrapheneOS. iOS and Android are two very different OS, so you have to backup the data of each individual app and restore them on the corresponding app on GrapheneOS. That would have been the same process while migration from iOS to stock Android.
EmailMask08 Is the OS capable (after setting up different profiles and such) in doing things I would normally expect from a phone? So like taking photos with the camera accessing those photos. Using Tor or some other safe browser. Messages and calls using a SIM card. Those sorta things. From reading I think you can use most things on a browser anyway, just need to be conscious of tracking and all that. Can I access/do normal phone things using alternate apps?
GrapheneOS is "just" standard Android and can do whatever Android can do. Whatever you usually do on your phone will be feasible ont GrapheneOS, including taking pictures, texting, taking calls, reading your newspaper on their dedicated app, ... The few limitations are for "high security" apps, that have chosen to require the Google Play certification of the OS rather than that of the OS. That includes several banking or State ID apps, that won't work on GrapheneOS. As for me, all my banking and ID apps work flawlessly.
You might be willing to install Sandboxed Google Play at the start. It works like a normal app (as opposed to the stock OS where it has all privileges), so you can choose which privileges should be granted. It might be necessary for some apps, especially for the notifications.
EmailMask08 Is there a reliable place or way to research these problems, any future troubleshooting and ways to actually understand what I'm doing so I don't fill up this sub with things that are already out there.
The place is the documentation. It is a bit too technical for many nof us so don't hesitate to come here and ask.
EmailMask08 I'm really sorry for my naivety, I'm just not sure where to look in regards for the info I need since I am (for now) not the technologically minded.
There is nothing to apologise for!