I think all of those (Arch, Gentoo, Void) have unofficial or forked immutable versions. But I’m wondering why the immutable distros aren’t for “tinkerers”?

But I get it, and agree, current Linux phones arent for non-“tinkerers”, but isn’t that just how all things start in foss world/early unstable non-foss software projects? Surely that wouldn’t be the long-term goal.

Like Linux RISC-V desktops/laptops, but that is just the beginning.

Maybe that isn’t true but the original topic was “why Linux phones when AOSP forks exist” and I think “tinkerers” might think this way about Android.

Oh, definitely, but that is just the first/current stage.

My added comment is that, besides the tinkerers, AOSP is still in danger of Google (bcs it is by Google) - they are closing/trying to close down there open-sauciness of it (I know, the licences, but megacorp), delaying publishing the sauce code, and in the near future, I’m sure is it, making decisions that would be increasingly hard for AOSP to be used benevolently (they arent at the moment so hard on this bcs driver availability locks down what Android you can install on your phone).

The phone market and society would benefit long-term of Google wouldn’t have a monopoly in so many key areas.