That makes sense. On Ubuntu Touch (if you find a compatible device) you could just delete the apps you don’t want and keep the rest.

Two issues I can think of is updating the apps that you do keep without the app store - I’m not sure there’s an easy way to do that. Maybe transfer the new package via cable or ssh (as you’ve also uninstalled the browser) and install it via the command line? The other issue could be uninstalling system apps. I haven’t tried that myself, but I have heard of others doing it and breaking things.

You could do something like that with Ubuntu Touch, but why waste the battery life and money on a smart phone when you can do this with a feature phone?

• Blogs/sites like Pitchfork for internationally hyped releases
• Smaller sites for more local content
• I check local calendars for release parties or concerts
• I talk with my colleagues.
• I go directly to labels that I trust and check out all of their new releases
• I stop by my local record stores and ask the staff for a couple of album recs
• I use the search functions of Bandcamp and follow a bunch of bands there
• Ditto for Soundcloud, where the reposts of independent artists are especially useful for discovering other bands and musicians.
• Recommendations from Qobuz or Spotify
• I have a couple of radio stations that I spend a few hours with each week, like fip.fr, local student radio, local insert political leanings radio