All the nerds like to recommend the Pixel since it's "pure" and a device for tinkering. But ignore the fact that all google products are unfinished, and this is true for the pixel line. If you are OK with beta testing for google and doing workarounds for bugs, then this is fine. But not everyone has time and nerves for that.
Yeah, samsung has bloat(most can be removed, disabled etc.) but I've never had OS bugs like when I had a Nexus or a Pixel.
I had gotten myself a hybrid and was disappointed by it pretty quickly. So it doesn't surprise me that they didn't sell well.
IMO it didn't do good in both categories, smart features were lackluster and not well implemented. And the watch part was kinda OK but not good enough. I couldn't tell the time exactly and the hands had to calibrated often.