I've used Google's phones as my go to since the Nexus 5. I've dabbled a bit with other OEMs, but each and every one caused more headaches than smiles. Knock on wood, I have yet to encounter anything approaching a major issue with a phone that has a big ol G in it. I know what I'm getting, first and foremost.
Staying current is another key... Security, yes, features, yes. Every non-Google phone I've had ultimately rotted on the vine after a few updates after the OEM stopped caring. I know that I'll get 3 years of monthly updates... If there's a problem, in an likelihood it'll be fixed and fixed fairly soon.
I had to use a LG G6 for a bit after my wife got fed up with the sledgehammer photo processing and an update damn near crippled it.... They porked something in the kernel that left only about 256mb of memory available for apps. That lasted for 5 months. I contacted LG support, which was equally difficult and fruitless.. LG never fixed it (it wasn't just my unit either, it happens to every G6 I loaded that update on).
The S7 would randomly save a chewed up, nearly black picture... Another one confirmed on several units. Contacted Samsung, who showed me the field upon which it grew it's you know what's. It never got fixed and I have some reports it got carried to future models.
I've had the occasion to contact Google with 3 legit defects I found. Each time, I was contacted by an engineering support team within a week or so to investigate. And each time, the problem was resolved within a couple of weeks. Neither LG nor Samsung even bothered a follow up email.
Post-sale support doesn't get the press it deserves... But it is extremely important to show your customers that you are there. Most Android OEMs blow you off once they get your money... Google doesn't.
And then there is the camera. From the 6P on, these phones are unparalleled in their ability to give me a consistent, great shot... One that likes REAL and not a heavily processed digital representation of one. And each generation has stepped up their game. I haven't had enough time with the 4xl to say, but initial returns tell me I won't be disappointed.
Yes, Pixels are often utilitarian, function over form phones, but I hardly see that as a negative. Like my favorite football team, they do their job.. And they do it well.