Scoped storage was a nightmare in the Android 10 betas. It broke a ton of apps, not even file explorer apps but generally everything. We had to turn it off via ADB and then Google realised their implementation was so flawed they removed the feature for 10. But they did warn they were bringing it back for 11. It looks like the Dev Preview version is working like the version from last year right now. But the whole purpose of these previews and betas is for this very kind of feedback. Without all the brouhaha of last year we would have had a version that sucked in Android 10.
So, yes, it is not ready for prime time, but it is a fair comment for Milleniumdroid to be upset at its current iteration. We can only hope that the feedback from developers at this point helps Google to sort this thing out.
Thanks for actually agreeing with me! I mean there is no reason to take away existing freedoms. The whole point of Android is freedom. But I guess Google is gonna leas us into a very locked down world. I've come to terms with not using root and custom ROMs anymore, but without proper filesystem control like on Pie and below, Android is literally not much more than souped up and restricted Java phone... I have grown addicted to the freedoms of Android over the last several(have been using it since I was 12 years old, now I'm almost 20).
Now the craziest thing that happened was a recent fight I had with John Wu, the creator of the Magisk root tool (don't worry, I deleted the tweets due to the level of embarassing crapshow I made in that moment of anger). He's been actively PROMOTING scoped storage like crazy on Twitter. So I start getting a bit angry at him. He of course pours oil on the fire by telling me apps should be "heavily sandboxed". I then go postal accusing him of being paid by Google to do this. Result? HE CONFESSED TO THE FACT THAT HE WILL SOON BE WORKING FOR APPLE! So the situation is gazillion times WORSE than I thought. Also, he had the nerve to tell me that I should root my phone if I want a feature that was BY DEFAULT included in older versions of Android! Anything to promote his rooting software. Sorry, but I am not gonna risk losing a warranty over that BS (and last time I tried to use Magisk it threw my tablet into a bootloop among other things).
One thing that I hope is possible, and maybe someone here who has dev experience can confirm, is the possibility of flashing a treble GSI image of Pie onto a device that shipped with Q or R. If this is possible and doesn't put you at any significant risk of not being able to make emergency calls or stuff like that, it might be possible to save ourselves from scoped storage.
In short, Google is copying Apple and trying to make me use THEIR Services and everything. BULLCRAP. I will get my media and software from sources that I want, and will not give a God forsaken cent to Google (I never have given them a cent yet anyway). I love Android but when somebody tells me that I can't do se thing basic and productive on my phone, like free file management, I get very upset.
Sorry if I don't seem like my normal happy and helpful self, but I am writing this while suffering from a bit of depression (which is caused by a ton more than this topic).