> recreate it as a free regular Google account after the domain name has been removed from G Suite
How though? Create x@gmail.com and copy your old emails into it, change your domain settings to stop pointing to G Suite and forward x@example.com to x@gmail.com instead, cancel your example.com G Suite and your email should still be working....
But then what happens to apps and Android login that are connected to your x@example.com Google SSO login? You can connect this up to x@gmail.com?