Chalk me up as one of the folks that was adamant this was due to an API mismatch.

Yikes. Low benchmarks in the case of everyday Pixel usage isn't a big deal, but prohibiting the installation without reason will make this a bigger deal than it needs to be. And I can't fault users for feeling that way.

Glad that you emphasized Europe. Here in the states where iMessage is dominant, it'll make a difference.

At the end of the day it's not a bad thing. I'm also waiting for details with compatibility to be ironed out, but it's a start.

Just surprised at the whole negative energy with this announcement considering this was a "when pigs fly" or "when hell freezes over" sorta thing. Again, it's a start and hopefully Google opens it up (even if forcibly by the EU) down the road.

Samsung Messages is the only other, right?

Exactly. It's in no way a bad thing for anyone. We'll see the way that it's implemented. It's the first step. r/Android is rearing its head here. Let's enjoy this for the moment

Legendary ending and silly humor throughout made this my goat game. Super Mario World and Super Metroid tie for second.

I'm guessing here, but are any of those products on that website both purchasable AND given a guaranteed product support time? Or to make it more specific, has Google ever killed off a phone (Nexus and Pixel years, so 15 years total) prior to its end of support date?

I don't believe they have. Stadia, a non-phone product, is the closest thing. Of course it's not a phone and Google also didn't give a eol date before its release. When it was killed they refunded any purchased games. So I guess the better question is would you be fine with getting a refund in the amount of your purchase of a Pixel 8/Pro if they didn't hold up their end of the bargain?

I know some of the comments in the community are tongue-in-cheek, but if Google were to keep the prior support date or do what they did today by increasing them, folks still wouldn't be happy.

At least you acknowledged it. The title of this post should have a misleading tag at best. There's no wonder that no other major outlets have reported on this.

I was teetering toward the Super Nintendo also with Earthbound, MK2/MK3 Ultimate, and Super Mario World. The roaming around in Super Mario 64 and flying non-stop with the birdman suit in Pilotwings 64 won me over with the N64 in the end though.

Could do this all day...