Walled Garden? Really!
It's dead easy to do a Google/Microsoft makeover to an Apple device. Google Photos, Drive, Maps, Mail, etc. all work fine. Same for Office apps, including Outlook. I use Bing search, Roboform password repository and Edge browser. I use Spotify instead of Apple Music, Libby and Kindle for books. Google Maps is way ahead of Apple's Maps version, and works great on iOS. Same for Google News. Apple Messenger has great features, but works with all carrier text systems regardless of destination OS.
I was a bit afraid of the "Walled Garden" when I bought my first Apple device. My family uses Android, Windows and Apple devices. My iPhone and iPad work seamlessly with all those systems. I know other individuals who also have used numerous 3rd party apps instead of Apple's defaults.
The Walled Garden has many exit doors. Just use them.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
