2) I just read an article about how Google is changing the value proposition with the Pixel line. Yes, they have top-end hardware specs, but three years of guaranteed (and fast) updates means your device *stays* cutting edge far longer.
And you can buy last year's model, or a used 2-year-old, and still have the latest software.
And you can buy last year's model, or a used 2-year-old, and still have the latest software.