It seems like each new version of Android locks down the file system in some new way that breaks a core part of something I do, so I actively don't want to upgrade.
I can't root my phone because I need my banking apps readily avaliable right now.
I'm still bitter about USB mass storage being removed for only MTP. MTP sucks, any time I use it for more than a few small files it always ends up dying partway through.
Most entry level and midrange phones are still USB 2.0, even if they use USB-C physical port. USB 2.0 is 480 Mbit/s max, even old Wi-Fi 5 allows 1 Gbit/s speeds or even more. At this point the limit will be the writing speed of eMMC/SD card so even USB 3.0 becomes superfluous. After setting up my NAS, Jellyfin, Navidrome, Syncthing and Tailscale I haven't ever connected my phone to a PC for file transfer—photos get synced automatically, music/videos get streamed and if I need to move files manually I can just do it from/to the SMB share over the network.
Wholly agreed, I even do more than the 3,2,1 backup because of it to a family member's routers which have SMB mounts and a Rasp pi down there with Tailscale on it. So helpful too having my Tailnet down there because it means I can remotely help them out without them even knowing.
Also, the above "must be via cable fanatics" should go and Praise DuARTe for not even using adb push/pull?
even old Wi-Fi 5 allows 1 Gbit/s speeds or even more
Well, probably. I don't have experience in that. Probably though it requires you to be in the room where the router is, or paper thick walls.
As my phone's MTP miserably fails for files from almost 4 GB and upwards, when I do heavy copying I just connect the SD card to my PC with a USB adapter and do it that way.
This is why I've ended up keeping my Pixel 4 on Android 10. I've made backups and flashed the latest versions, only to come back because every time they've broken something I need the phone to do.
It makes me glad that this is a secondary phone because I can happily keep it on this ancient version of Android and not give a shit about the security.