This is unfortunately not true (for me anyway). I have an alt gmail account that I used less frequently. 3.5 years ago I was abroad right after the first wave

This is unfortunately not true (for me anyway). I have an alt gmail account that I used less frequently. 3.5 years ago I was abroad right after the first wave of COVID, and logging in from a new laptop (no longer have the old one). When I tried logging in with the correct password, it told me I needed to verify an SMS to an old phone number I haven't used in 10 years (7 at the time I suppose). Every now and then I'll try logging in hoping they realize that the account is mine, since I have the password, and no one else is logging in (hopefully). Unfortunately, nothing changes, I still get the requirement to verify with a second device, and I never configured a recovery email for that account. One day I'm hoping someone will register the old phone number, and I'll be able to smooth talk them into passing the confirmation code to me.