Best thing about the pixel is it lets you sideload your own operating system from Grapheneos, Lineageos, Calyx, etc.
The only issues I have are unfortunately still common throughout the entire phone industry (No user-servicability or repairability, no SD card slot, no headphone jack)
My main reasons for using mp3s are bc I only listen to music on my phone so I don't need to sync across devices or anything. It saves a ton of mobile data to not have to stream, & even if there's no signal I can jam out.
It does take a while to organize and perfect my library, but I actually love it that way, it's like a constant journey to reach my peak listening experience. Speaking of that, if there's something I don't like about a song (There's empty silence at the start/end, or i just want to customize it with a different mix) I just throw it into audacity & fix it up.
Not to mention I don't have to worry about platform-exclusive songs, everything I want is in one place.
I'd never heard of soulseek before but it looks like a really neat piece of software! I'll have to check that out at some point.
You can get a Google pixel and sideload an operating system such as Grapheneos, and you won't have to deal with any of Google's bs spying. Highly recommend looking into it.