Good question :-)

I do use DuckDuckGo on my laptop. I should manually change MicroB search engine to DuckDuckGo, but I don't expect there is GUI for that - one has to visit about:config, and then to figure out the way to change icon with X-Term. Packaging a search engine would be tricky because of post-rm algorithms, to return to 'what was here before'. A GUI for easy switch between search engines would be beneficial.

Regarding all the Android hate - and yes, it is hatred, even if somebody says that it's not simply because they haven't used this word in their diatribes against Android and Google and cookies - I do dislike Android. Because: 1) monopolist, to the point that perfectly good call-and-ask-a-human or SMS-and-get-computer's-auto-reply services are phased out in favour of "Install an Android/iOS app or use our website" - where website isn't usable on my Maemo 5; 2) version-fractured, to the point where old hardware doesn't get new OS version, old OS version doesn't get new versions of apps, and old versions of apps aren't archived on the Internet; 3) full of awful, proprietary apps with almost no quality control - ads, malware, spyware, pay-ware abound.

And yes, I tend to write lengthy rants. Because it's time-consuming to condense thoughts into laconic phrases?

It's not absolutely necessary for a phone to support Android to get released. Jolla Phone somehow managed to get manufactured with Sailfish as default. But running Android by default definitely helps a phone to take off. Because people watch a video about this phone and think "Oh, I know Android, I am amazed how much faster it is to use with hardware keyboard! Gimme that!" instead of "Buying hardware just for the sake of running another OS with strange GUI is boring, let them bring OS to my phone free of charge, then maybe I will try it out - no money goes to them".

I wonder how people would react to 'aOS' operating system running on 'aPhone'. Would Apple be able to sue the 'Ipple' start-up?..

Thank you. Best wishes.
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Per aspera ad astra...