Thinking of coming back to Android for the Essential Phone

with Treble project, those security updates/android backbone updates might start happening in the background even if the manufacturer/carrier haven't updated the upper layer aka skin etc.
Project Treble is implemented starting from Android 8 onwards so i would assume this, if done as promised, should alleviate your update worries.
 
Like I mentioned, I've been reading/watching all the reviews on this phone. The person who was hardest on the battery in their review said he could comfortably get a full day of heavy use out of it.
Fair enough.

I am not impressed with the standard S8 battery life, so the PH1 concerns me.

Looking forward to your views on it if you get it.