Thanks for the info. I'll give endeavor at shot.

I was JUST about to try out Manjaro. Are these 'other issues' a new thing or are you saying that because Manjaro is more of a departure from arch than endeavor is?

This reminds me of an excellent short story over on r/writingprompts. It's about how humans evolved in the harshest conditions as a forgotten experiment. They emerge and are basically gods.

This may be symptomatic of the issue being addressed. Would we be more willing to get the phone repaired if we felt more ownership of it? My hands are tied if the device was designed without repeatability in mind and the manufacturer has no intention of volunteering assistance - so I must complain. In our current system, we don't have many options to choose from. I look forward to your thoughts.

Also I believe 'bricked' is a result of it becoming inoperable. Our devices aren't easily repaired so they will become 'bricked' SOONER than if designed to run unlocked boot systems and OS's. Feeling more ownership of your device may lead you to be more careful with it and only entrust it with reputable technicians.