Is this specific to Google’s implementation of the Android UI? This isn’t an issue on my Samsung besides it blocking older apps due to system architecture issues.

I’m referring to the Google apps themselves (Google Play, Gmail, YouTube, etc). They enable/disable UIs based on server-side flags, it happens on all devices regardless of manufacturer.

Over the years Apple has fixed a lot of the annoyances that Android users had with iOS, and meanwhile Google has locked down Android, implemented measures to prevent rooting/customization, made all their apps a constant A/B/C/D test controlled by server-side flags that constantly rearrange your UIs and prevent the ability to sideload specific app versions, been less generous with the free service offerings, and repeatedly shut down, re-launch, re-brand, and overhaul all their apps and services.

Google does a pretty good job at selling iPhones.