I have a very similar story about moving from a OnePlus to a Pixel 8A. I am using fenced google play for now, ill check out f-droid and aurora.
To the OP of this comment thread, I got the phone for $450 (open box, new) from a Canadian company (Swiftronics).
Just installed GrapheneOS on a used Pixel 8A this week. Started using it full time yesterday! If anyone has any questions about the install or use, let me know! I'm new to Lemmy so I'm not sure how (or if) notifications work, but I'll try my best.
Nothing makes me chuckle more than blocking the complaint notifications from Google that it needs to be let out of its sandbox.
The only Google apps I put on are: Play store (fenced), and Find my device (for some Motorola "air tags" that I have)
You should try HERE WeGo instead of Google Maps!