After a month and a half of Google ignoring my emails to them, asking for an update on my case, Google FINALLY got back to me today with someone from the Advanced Hardware Support Team.
I got to politely tell them that I am no longer a customer of Google, that they lost my business after 3 malfunctioning devices, and a month and a half of no communication from their end. I know I'm a small fish in a large pond, but still, each customer should be important enough to address promptly.
I'll have a hard time going back to a Google phone in the future, although I'm not ruling it out completely. Confidence has been shaken, that much can be said.
BTW, I'm enjoying my Galaxy S9+. I think I finally have it set up the way I like it. I miss some features of my Pixel, like the front-and-center Google Assistant. But, for the most part, my S9+ does everything and more that my Pixel 2 XL used to do.
I'm enjoying Samsung Health, and the app is actually changing some of my habits. I'm tracking my food intake with it, which is encouraging me to drop sugar from things like coffee, and better regulate portion control. It is also tracking my steps, which is encouraging me to walk more. For the first time in years, I've actually set a goal to lose weight, including a target weight that I'd like to be at.
I used the provided (quite excellent) earbuds and listened to a music mix while walking my 4500 steps yesterday, and found Samsung's onboard audio to be most excellent. So far, the phone is working for my lifestyle, and actually seems to be promoting me to lead a healthier lifestyle (I was already trending towards that, but the phone seems to be helping).
