I agree, auth apps actually work relatively painlessly for day-to-day (especially if someone else supports them, like at work), but for me at least, as a personally managed last resort they turned out horrible. If something happens to the device(s), you're screwed. Even SMS is better, because at least you can move the sim or eventually recover your own phone number on a brand new device, even if the old one vanished. And yes, I know SMS's can be hijacked in some cases (like by a malicious mobile app) but for personal stuff there has to be some sane recovery, and Google does not give you one easily.
Swapping SIM cards to a new phone often doesn't work. Did you not read the OP?
> So my phone has been failing to charge for three weeks and I bought a new phone today and can't get it set up because the old one is dead and I can't get a verification code. So I moved the old sim card on the advice of one of my sons and the codes are still going to the old physical phone and Google says it will send me a link in 72 hours.
