Having a Google account annoyed me the most as it related to my Android cell phone. Having Google constantly stalking me totally pissed me off. Dumped Android. I was forced to set up a G-mail account to use the Android, but never used it. Still... it was always there.
I know it’s part of my PC experience, but it doesn’t go where I go, and send me weird questions like “Do you want to post the photo of [blank] you just took?”
Yeah, for email with most freebie providers you are the product.
Either a paid private account or a good free one is the best way to go, e.g. free private email -
https://protonmail.com