Sorry for the late reply. I think they promised "5+ years" of support for the FP3, so that could theoretically already end in August this year.
However, like with the FP2, they have a great track record for long support and only ever seem to want to push that support even farther. Also I'm using the EOS ROM on this phone which is based on LineageOS. The combination of a very open phone and an open source OS leads me to expect I'll still be using this phone for another 5 years easily.
Joxnir
I just updated my FP3 to Android 13 yesterday. I love it. It's still running like new. Software aside, I'd say it's physically as durable as most phones, but I can easily replace any part that might break, since it's made in such a modular design. Heck it even came with a screwdriver to make it easier.
I fondly remember playing Elite Force when I was young. I still remember the opening Borg level which simultaneously impressed and scared me, haha. Also those aliens that looked like manta rays were a funny and cheesy concept.
Come to think of it, I should play Elite Force 2.
Neither side. It's messed up.
How sad. I wish him the best of luck with it and hope he pulls through.
I'm guessing we're about a decade away from this getting miniaturized down to insect sizes.
Why not a fruit tree? There's so many to choose from. They come in all shapes and sizes, and it's much nicer to have a practical tree that gives you free food rather than a purely decorative plant.
Edit: Forgot to say that they're great for the bees and local ecology, too!
I think Jim isn't a good rolemodel for what OP is suggesting. Jim's pranks often walked a line where they were funny for the audience, but still a bit too mean for real life. After all, Dwight never seemed to enjoy the pranks, and that's really the crucial element of a practical joke.
On a related note. One of my favourite pranks happened in a game of Minecraft. Me and a friend were chatting and playing. He was fishing while I was mining, except I wasn't mining. I was waiting for the perfect moment to use an invisibility potion and snatch his fish in mid-air. He was so confused at first, until he heard my laughter, understood what was happening and had a good laugh as well.
EOS does indeed have google services removed, and replaced with microG, which is an open source replacement that allows dependent apps to still work. You can check it out here:
https://e.foundation/e-os/
I really like the balance they go for between practicality and privacy. Never tried their own online services so I can't comment on that part.
As for VPN with hotspot, no idea. :D For what it's worth, regular hotspotting worked fine in my experience.
If you're concerned about the lifespan of the device, maybe the FP4 or FP5 would better. Lacking headphone jack aside, they seem like good upgrades and should last waaay longer.