Gmail is just one interface in the Google ecosystem. Docs, Photos, Drive, Calendar, etc. etc. are all integrated into Gmail.
Also if you haven’t tried to change your email in 2023, it’s a fucking giant pain in the ass. Companies simply dont even consider that anyone will want to do that.
I have had companies that refuse to change it. I’ve had companies where I change it and some emails go to the new address and some to the old, with no apparent way to update it. I’ve had people continue to send it to the old address despite being reminded several times and also asking them repeatedly to delete it. I’ve had companies outright refuse to change my email address to the extent that I had to cancel my account and create a new one.
Youtube could easilly be one of the most difficult to degoogle from
Hard disagree. That’s the easiest. Just switch to LibreTube, FreeTube and/or or GrayJay. Boom, done.