I was considering getting an old iPod recently but for different reasons. I just wanted to disconnect from the data.

@JMaxB that’s what we did with out last iphone upgrade. Took off Safari, limited contacts, etc and gave it to 11-year old to use with Apple Music. A couple hiccups along the way, but has worked well as an iPod.

@JMaxB I am writing a post on my experience. TLDR: I asked 5 of my closest friends if they had any ipods in the house they would give up. I got 8. Free.
I installed itunes on my Windows box - and frankly - it is a decent verision of itunes IF you turn off icloud lib and Apple music.
I am writing this up this morning.

@JMaxB well, the last upgrade was from an 8 to a 13, so I don’t do it all that often.

@JMaxB no worries. I’m not that thin skinned:). I see you are from Upstate NY. I was a life-long upstater before moving to Ireland. Last 18 in Ithaca.

@JMaxB I have no problem with people turning iPhones into crypto-iPods, but I’m utterly unpersuaded about relinquishing my iPhone in favor of a dumb phone.
It’s too integral to my life: it’s now my only camera; it serves as a music player (or streamer); it’s a backup library (some ebooks limit how many devices they can be on); it lets me created voice memo reminders while minimizing disruption of my primary task of the moment; now, it’s a health management tool as well.
Maybe I manage it tolerably because I’m old and didn’t grow up with it. Abandoning it might be exemplary, but so might using it as a multi-tool rather than an addiction.