A customary Google search didn't reveal much I didn't know, so I wanted to ask here about the experience of anyone who did that same move.
For reference, I expect my M1 to last a few years, but do not own any other Apple device.
LineageOS is a well-rounded Android distribution with lots of community support: https://lineageos.org/
F-Droid is a kitchen-sink app store for Free Software, much of which can replace the stuff you get from the Play Store: https://f-droid.org/
MicroG, a "re-implementation of Google’s proprietary Android user space apps and libraries": https://microg.org/ (unofficially, there's also https://lineage.microg.org/)
Netguard, an app that lets you deny internet access to specific applications: https://netguard.me/
I am waiting for what Sony has to offer this year. Otherwise it is looking like Samsung since Pixel isn't available everywhere.
I haven't used a non-Pixel Android phone in a long time, but my experience with any device with a customized (non-vanilla) Android OS was bad. Lots of bugs and bloat. Stick with vanilla.
The spam blockers work really well, especially in an election year. Put Adguard on it and most ads go away. The updates come as they should and nothing seems to break. Not much more I can ask from a phone.