@Roboe Fairphone is only for the European market. Last I checked, they will not sell to North America, unless you proxy buy. It is important for a company to state support for F-Droid. Most companies want you to use Google Play and prohibit side-loading, which means more control (for companies, not users). As for PinePhone, the idea is that you CAN install Android (or whatever) on their phones, tablets, laptops et al–if you want. That is the crux, choice, or lack thereof in these coke/pepsi times. Perhaps FairPhone or a clone will arrive in North America. There is the Purism phone, but that is expensive. I would rather blow that kind of cash on a laptop, but that is me (still prefer to keep it three digits). Some people I know do drop four digits on a phone without sweating it. I do like your idea of getting older phones with older Androids, yesteryear’s stuff, which is probably just as good. Or even better, an Ubuntu Phone or Jolla or whatever…but they are hard to find or overpriced.
Android Go is interesting (to me) because it is on the affordable end of the market. If anyone has an answer, let me know.