I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Like you, I'm interested but I won't touch the first generation Google folder with a stick. I am perplexed by the issues with the 6/6P as my Pixel 5 is nearly flawless.
My only complaint with the Pixel 5 is not really a Pixel issue. I get returning emails after I read and delete them. Even after turning on POP Email for my Outlook account in Gmail and changing mailbox settings, some email simply keeps regenerating and displays as new mail. This doesn't happen on my iPhone with Apple Mail, so definitely a Gmail app issue.