The problem is that being "open" is one deciding factor in 1000. I can't go through a checklist and say: "I want $screen_size, $battery_life, and make sure it's open as well!"
I have to first search which phones are open, then narrow down available size, battery, etc.
This might be new to you, but PC users that run linux have been dealing with this reality since 1996.
my first PC had a winmodem and an OPTi OPL-3SA sound card. traded the winmodem for a rockwell 33.6Kbps, and opted for a Yamaha sound card (because paying for OpenSound drivers was stupid, and the free trial gave you 30 minutes of working sound drivers).
I have to first search which phones are open, then narrow down available size, battery, etc.