If you can’t get the phone from a local distributor/e-shop/carrier, then why bother?

That’s a normal people’s perspective.

The problem are not the distros, not even the phones itself. The problem is that these FOSS/privacy phone manufacturers don’t sell their stuff through local e-shops like Alza. This is what hurts their adoption. Yeah, they lose 30% (or whatever percentage they have in the contract with the store) but this will recoup itself in the long run.

This is doing business 101. Don’t think short term, think long term.