plug in USB cable, drag and drop entire directory from one drive to another with file explorer, is the only reasonable way to manage photos. Get everything off the device at the end of each day. Why would you ever put things back on the phone?

Because I want to be able to search for and show or send photos to other people on the go.

A smartphone is like a little computer you can use on the go, in case you weren’t aware.

And then if I want to look at my photos while I'm out, or show them to someone, I don't have them on my phone anymore?

I hear you; in practice I can use my nextcloud server for this, or if I have tailscale turned on in the phone I can even use the synology photo app.

Being forced to upgrade phones... Ugh.

I don't have a solution if you're not me and you're not paying me, though.

If only phone vendors didn't try to break this functionality.

Yeah when was the last time image capture got an update? 2010?

Ah yes, let me just walk home for 20 hours instead of taking a train because I need to first transfer the pictures I took on a trip to my computer before I can install the local transport company's app to get home now that they removed ticket machines from platforms and are telling people to use their app to buy tickets...

I can think of various solutions (from companies not requiring an app in the first place to inserting an SD card) but suggesting that people simply not store user data on their phone is a new one