For a long time, you couldn’t really buy an unlocked phone straight from the manufacturer in the US. The closest thing was importing one is with the correct network bands (GSM), but that also kind of went away when VoLTE became a requirement.

Relatively recently, some manufacturers started offering unlocked devices sold straight from them, but it wasn’t until Apple started doing it with the iPhone that it became a mass-appeal/well known thing.

So overall it’s because:

• That’s just how things were for a long time
• Carriers offer deals on their locked devices
• 2-year carrier contracts were a thing until the mid 2010s or so
• People are just used to their carrier being a one-stop-shop

Nowadays more people are aware about buying an unlocked phone instead of a carrier firmware/carrier locked device. But in the US I’d say most people only know about iPhones being offered unlocked.

Same specs as you except 5800x3D. Same sentiments at 1440p.

And it’s been the default here in the US, historically and culturally (for puritanical reasons originally, and now because it’s “the norm”). Absolutely barbaric practice. “Yes, please mutilate my newborn baby because *checks notes* having a foreskin is unhygienic and looks weird compared to what I’m used to seeing in porn.”

It sucks because that’s also Google and their products/services. So it’s like jumping from one shitty platform into another in the context, except the other one is more niche.

Yes, but he’s straight for pay.

It’s not exactly difficult if you use Tailscale or really any VPN. So I really don’t see the value for the cost; if you’re even considering self hosting a Plex server/instance, there’s a list of basic knowledge you should have or learn (like what you mentioned).