I'm in the same boat. Pixel 2 XL with a custom ROM. Battery life isn't great but it works. The biggest pain is multitasking as apps have to reload when switching sometimes.
That was why I got rid of the pixel 2. The newer ones are soooo much better without the reloading issue. I got a pixel 5 for $150 on back market. Totally worth it and an amazing deal really.
Hmm, that's not a bad idea. I was looking at the recent Pixel 8 Pro, but waiting for more long-term reviews. Google Fi is giving $400 off so it's not a terrible deal.