Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?
Not Rooted/ROM'd. I'll mirror most of the earlier comments I've read in the thread--no need, works fine, etc. But, my main reason for not doing this is because technically, it takes much more time than I'm willing to put into it to learn all the nuances of managing the process. I *would* R/R it, I did it with my Nexus, and Nexus 4; however, these are the reasons I haven't done it again:
1. You have to read several threads, make many decisions about what tools to use, methods, etc.- none of which is necessarily easy to understand at first glance (like which kernel to choose) and requires as much prayer that you've not missed some small little detail that makes you have to restart the process or worse, screw up the phone, as it does a modicum of technical skill
2. I almost always do something wrong at least once and usually a few times, which is part of the learning process but turns an hour or two of tinkering into a day
3. I'm not always sure I've succeeded because after the entire process is finished, on occasion, I have still gotten messages that I'm not rooted and then the process doesn't work again even though I was able to access the boot loader
4. Rooting and flashing causes you to have to re-set up accounts; which, can take longer than if you use your phone for a primary communication tool at home and work (I have several personal and several work email accounts; I use HTML/Web access for many apps so the service doesn't touch my contacts)
5. Even if a backup service does give you back your settings, apps, wifi information, etc., it does not re set up all the app logins, which can be a pain (and adds to the time to get your phone working again)
6. While there might be some backup software out there that backs up your screen customization (how many screens, position of icons, apps in folders, folder names, etc.) I haven't found one--so all that has to be set up again
7. Same problem as with Carrier OSs - If G comes out with a needed / cool update to android, and I accept the OTA update to the OS, for me at least, I've been re-locked and re-stocked (I will accept the possibility it's just my lack of understanding why this happens--but it happened several times for me), which caused me to have to go through the Rooting process again
8. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Steps 1-6
So, no 7 is the biggest issue for me. OTA updates from G are great because you get the latest android features, and if you want them, you have to suffer through a lot of headaches to remain rooted. And, as I've said, it is very likely it's my ignorance and not fully understanding the process, which has caused my own pain. My N5 gives me a great experience without the hassle, and while I do see some benefits to rooting and playing with ROMs (and it can be fun), it's just too much trouble to maintain.
~b
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram