> In terms of user experience, it's pretty obvious that GrapheneOS suffers by comparison. For example, the camera app isn't as amazing as it is on Pixel with full Google Android, and it probably never will be. You can install apps from the Google pay store with Aurora -- even things like Google maps and Gboard for swipe typing, but you will probably prefer them to be more secure and so you'll lock them down as much as possible, lessening their utility.
GrapheneOS recently added our own modern Camera app replacing the legacy AOSP Camera. You can also use the Google Camera app included in the stock OS on GrapheneOS if you want more features. It only depends on GSF which can be installed alongside it as another fully sandboxed app. They work the same way as any other apps. There's a guide on the camera at https://grapheneos.org/usage#camera. GrapheneOS has the same camera quality and features as the stock OS. It's the apps which are different, and you can use the stock OS camera app.
It's also possible to use Play services (GMS) and the Play Store as fully sandboxed apps due to the sandboxed Play services compatibility layer on GrapheneOS. You might be choosing to use it without that but it does have broad app compatibility for users who want it. You don't have to give up much to use GrapheneOS anymore. Not every Play services feature is available but the functionality that's available is steadily expanding as we make extensions to the compatibility layer.
https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-play-services
The compatibility layer enables using GSF, GMS and the Play Store as fully sandboxed apps with exactly the same restrictions and permission model as any other user installed app. That includes the improvements offered by GrapheneOS such as the Sensors toggle, Network toggle, stronger sandbox and other privacy/security improvements protecting the OS from apps.