Re: I was able to root every phone I had for (too many) years with Verizon.
To root or not to root. I run apps that I've written & other security people have written that help in PENtesting, but require root access to the kernel. It depends on what you want out of your phone. I always root phones & tabs. su gives you admin privileges to the lowest directory level where you can root out (pun intended) & delete all of the bloatware your carrier & manufacturer use to waste storage, which you can reclaim for your own apps. You can run powerful programs like Titanium Pro, which does a thorough backup that includes all system files & apps, not just user stuff. You can use RCB (Root Call Blocker). Regular phone blockers just give you a pick up/hang up option. That's all a spam artist needs to add your phone to lists of "active" numbers - making the lists more valuable. RCB blocks the call before you get to the phone circuitry, telling spammers this is an out-of-service phone. Result: not on lists. I like TWRP recovery. There are, in fact, hundreds of apps that are desirable, but can't run on unrooted phones (try going to Play Store & type in "Root" or "Rooted" & see what your super-smart stock phone can't run). I use Samsungs routinely and, though I can replace the Touch-Wiz loader with dozens of custom ones, rooting gives you the ability to choose from hundreds of custom versions of Android, from plain vanilla to supernaturally powerful. My only problem is that I rooted my Note 8 when the security patch level was 3 & gave it to my wife. My new Note 8 has patch level 5 & the root exploit only works on patch levels 1, 2, & 3. Darn Samsung slipped code to defeat the exploit into patch levels 4 & 5. So, I'm stuck unless somebody develops a new exploit that can defeat their half-smart trick. This is almost as much a dealbreaker as Bixby is. I've disabled as much of it as I could, but to totally remove the bugger, I'll need su. I don't care about tripping Knox, as if I have a problem big enough to require warranty work (where you basically get back a refurb phone in place of your damaged one), I'll just use it as an opportunity to check out the new Google & LG models. If all you want is a fancy phone, don't root. If you NEED to run apps that require rooting, then root.
, Not everyone upgrades every year or 2, And when we have expensive devices that still work well, Replacing the battery and adding a new ROM is a good way to extent the lives, Too bad we lost removable batteries.
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