None of this is even slightly true. The kernel is still on the "vendor" side of Project Treble, and still controlled by the OEM as a result (not that it should

None of this is even slightly true. The kernel is still on the "vendor" side of Project Treble, and still controlled by the OEM as a result (not that it should be but it is). This is not against "traditional linux" at all anyway. Upstream linux doesn't exactly like having a bunch of stuff rammed in as kernel modules either, that's why for example FUSE exists. As for "removing GPL parts" - Android started with minimal GPL parts in the first place but they haven't been actively removing GPL, either. Just look through AOSP for MODULE_LICENSE_GPL - you'll find a ton of components are still (L)GPL.