For anyone looking for something like that right now - https://grapheneos.org/

The neat part is - amazon is still a POS

Amazon is a big POS

I use arch btw

Well, there's Libreddit. If you absolutely must browse reddit, consider using Libreddit instead. No interactions though (there's lemmy for that :p).

just living, but sometimes it feels reality is rawdogging me though. But that's just life.

But won't I need an account, and even without login, watch activity on youtube for it to churn out similar recommendations. First priority is not to use youtube, recommendations are a good to have.

There is this guide available for fitgirl and dodi repacks. Haven't tried for dodi but fitgirl works for me, but process is pretty much same. Have fun

I used https://juicysms.com/ for sms verification. It's a paid service (I used monero).
worked perfectly for me.
I needed it for aurora store.

I haven't personally experienced it. But have observed a discussion between product manager and engineer who had to put it. Seemed like regular business to him, he didn't seem bothered at all.
I would think only people personally bothered by it might have any issue with it, they are rare.

My time is more valuable than money, but I still pirate. To me it's not about money but principles.
If I pay for something and still can't "own" it, I pirate.
If a generous portion of the money I pay isn't going to the rightful individuals but to our corporate overlords, I pirate.
If my internet freedom is threatened, I pirate.

If someone pirates due to lack of money and one day they have enough, I suggest keep pirating and donate to FOSS and pay to individual creators.