I don't believe this claim from their web site: "you can still run your favourite apps…, conveniently access your bank accounts". If you don't have access to Play Store, you have no easy way to install your favorite apps (say Waze) or your bank's app, because those are not on f-Droid or available through direct download. Running these "favorite" apps is possible in principle in a Google-free environment with something like microg, but how does an average user get them installed? From where?
I have a run a Google-free phone for years now (currently crDroid on Moto G7) and I have experimented with moving apks from a second phone (with Play Store installed) to the de-Googled phone and it is quite an effort. So I keep my old phone shut down, at home, with only WiFi access as needed (no sim card) when I need to deposit a check by image for my bank for example. But I have no good solution for proprietary apps I want to use on the road, like Waze, without a great deal of effort. Yes there are acceptable open alternatives to many proprietary apps but these are in some cases not my "favourite".
If you've been running a Google-free phone for "years" then I'm surprised you haven't come across options like Yalp Store[0] for installing proprietary APKs that are only published in the Play Store.
I have a run a Google-free phone for years now (currently crDroid on Moto G7) and I have experimented with moving apks from a second phone (with Play Store installed) to the de-Googled phone and it is quite an effort. So I keep my old phone shut down, at home, with only WiFi access as needed (no sim card) when I need to deposit a check by image for my bank for example. But I have no good solution for proprietary apps I want to use on the road, like Waze, without a great deal of effort. Yes there are acceptable open alternatives to many proprietary apps but these are in some cases not my "favourite".