Yeah the utilities area is downright scary. Usually run on thin margins, really old specialists that are rapidly retiring, no IT budget to speak of, and most mission critical tech is 20+ years old, off the shelf from companies long dead, and loosely networked by people who’s objective was “make it work”, not security or resilience.

The only way out- electrical companies basically HAVE to become public like all the other utilities, and funding, wages, job training, and modernization for all utilities needs to be prioritized massively.

Of course, there’s lots of political reasons for idiots to fight against all this, so it won’t happen until the worst already has.

The main question is when does it stop getting security updates. Obviously if you’re using a custom ROM that concern is lessened.

https://www.fairphone.com/software-longevity

That’s totally fair. In that spirit I’d look to Fairphone first for certain.

Yep. But a mobile device will never really be BIFL. Too many sacrifices in form factor, and software / hardware move too fast to practically stay on one device for more than 5-7 years IMHO.