On a scale of Samsung to Google, how bad does Asus load up their Android with crapware?
Who is on which end of that crapware spectrum? And what is the crapware? Asking as someone who's only had a Pixel, or iPhone before that.
Samsung has their own version of every built-in app. Text messages for example, they have a much shittier version of "Messages" (no RCS support at least a few months ago). Their apps get set back to default randomly. Photos/Gallery, email, web browser, you name it.
They then have other junk installed. Their own app store, their own voice assistant, and other useless/niche apps.
You are blocked from uninstalling any of it.
It is the scourge of Android. "Android One" was an effort by Google to curb it, but I think only Motorola signed up (in addition to Google, obviously). OnePlus started on the premise of a clean/stock experience, but have started losing their way (rather rapidly). "Nothing" is a new manufacturer aiming for a stock experience. Asus seems to be doing stock.
If you ever consider moving away from Pixel I strongly recommend prioritizing a stock experience over _anything_ else. Crapware is maddening, full of bugs, and likely full of vulnerabilities.