So long Google, and thanks for all the nudes

The author bought ten identical Android 6.0.1 phones to turn into SMS gateways and, because the Play Store doesn't run on such old devices, started tinkering with a de-googled, compile-from-source Android setup. Limited to phones with 2 GB of RAM, lightweight apps and homemade "slop" tools became necessary, and that constraint unexpectedly made the experience enjoyable. The project sparked interest in using and distributing software outside Google's ecosystem, with the author valuing the freedom to experiment and build minimal apps tailored to specific needs.

Those experiments collided with a frustrating encounter when trying to publish a new game and offer a text editor called Tabby on the Play Store. Submissions were rejected with opaque, sometimes bizarre reasoning - one rejection included an unrelated NSFW screenshot - and appeals were denied without meaningful explanation. The author suspects automated translation or review mix-ups but cannot inspect the submitted content or get a human explanation, and fears that repeated opaque strikes could cost a developer account. As a result, plans shifted to distribute via F-Droid and itch.io, and a broader conclusion was reached: relying on Google's gatekeeping is risky unless review quality and transparency improve.