> The difference is that Librem laptops can run any OS like a standard PC.

So does the phone.

> This is going to work with basically zero carrier features

This applies to any phone not bought via the carrier. I haven't bought a phone any different way for 20 years.

> and won’t even activate on important cellular networks like Verizon

That's pretty much a US only problem, and it's because of Verizon, not those phones.