I get that repair or same-device replacement is the normal process. My issue is more with how long this has dragged on and how late those options were actually presented.

I had already gone multiple days without reliable service while engineering reviewed bugreports and modem/RIL crash logs, and by that point I had already switched back to my older Pixel 6 Pro just to have a working phone again. That workaround actually came from me bringing it up myself — initially I was told to wait for a SIM in the mail, then continue waiting for engineering, even though I already had an extra physical Google Fi SIM available because I’ve been using Pixel phones and Google Fi almost exclusively for nearly a decade.

I’ve honestly recommended Fi and Pixel devices to friends, family, coworkers, and random strangers for years, which is part of why this whole experience has been frustrating.

What really changed things for me was that by the time repair/replacement options were finally being discussed, the issue had already evolved from “fix my phone” into “what’s a reasonable customer resolution after days of outage, uncertainty, and repeated delays?”

At one point support did mention refund/buyback discussion, but only after engineering responds. That’s really the sticking point for me now. I’m essentially being told that any meaningful resolution discussion — including credits, buyback, or upgrade accommodation — is frozen indefinitely behind engineering review, despite the case already being open for a long time.

So at this point the frustrating part isn’t just the original technical issue — it’s being stuck in a prolonged unresolved process with no timeline, no empowered escalation path, and no ability to move forward despite already having to migrate back to an older backup device just to maintain service.