I've run semi-proprietary Linux distros that are (in practice) parasitic on Android but include a GNU userland as well, like Sailfish. They are a lot better in

I've run semi-proprietary Linux distros that are (in practice) parasitic on Android but include a GNU userland as well, like Sailfish. They are a lot better in some ways, but I think much of the issue is present in the kernel alone, where dependency on binary blobs and proprietary drivers means kernels are frozen in place forever. The issue is software freedom in general, beyond just the missing parts of the desktop Linux software stack that we know and love, like our package managers, GNU utilities, Wayland, systemd, etc.