In the US at least, this is not the case:
https://www.fcc.gov/device-unlocking-faq
The cellular provider no more "owns the device" than the cable company "owns your TV."
> I can live with Linux ;)
But you are not living with Linux. You are living with Android ;-).
I'm not living with Android. I'm waiting for Linux.
Edit: I don't mean "own" literally, financially. I mean "own" in the sense of access and control. So yes, I can root "my" device, but I can't root the baseband radio.
http://kali4hackers.blogspot.com/2013/09/install-kali-linux-...
And yes, one can run Linux. But you're still running the Android kernel :(
In the US at least, this is not the case:
https://www.fcc.gov/device-unlocking-faq
The cellular provider no more "owns the device" than the cable company "owns your TV."
> I can live with Linux ;)
But you are not living with Linux. You are living with Android ;-).