I think is more for users that are not so familiarized with technology (installing a mobileOS is not so easy for many people), but still want to use a de-googled phone.

I know, many of us, bitcoiners, we already know how to install graphene or calyx, but not everybody is capable or even willing to do that.

No need to download and boot into OS and go through those additional steps.

Trade-off is having privacy hardware shipped to your physical address.

I would personally save the bucks and do as you mention. But people people be ‘lazy’

You can do it yourself. Or pay someone for their time 😁