That's fine. I didn't say your way was wrong.
But the ability to root and ROM is NOT important to ALL people who are interested in Nexus or Pixel phones that anyone can say that the entire point of owning one of them is so that you can do that.
Maybe TO YOU that is the point of owning one of those phones, but you don't speak for everyone who likes those phones.
Understood, but to me the Nexus line and now Pixel, is the uber niche specialty phone, highly used by XDA members. Usually most people that only think root are in trees and have zero clue about customization, would just get a "Galaxy" phone or maybe an LG.
I personally don't see why average Joe blow would pick up a Pixel 2 XL over let's say the Galaxy S8+ or Note 8 or LG V30 ? The average 99% smartphone buyer doesn't even know what "stock Android" means, and updates to them are meaningless.
But I am happy to see non tech people interested in the Pixel phone now too, that's always good. And no disrespect meant, but in my opinion the Nexus / Pixel line was more for the super tech nerd that likes to dig down deep into their smartphones, access the Settings to truly tweak the heck out of the phone, improving battery life, and squeezing out faster performance. And for the people not into that, Android has come a long way lately, and a S8+ or V30 is maybe best suited fro them.