Oh wow, this makes me appreciate that iMessage isn't really a thing over here. I can switch back and forth between the platforms and my wife doesn't see a difference as the commonly used messaging apps are cross-platform. We actually used iMessage with my wife back in the day, but gave it up for reliability issues. I'm rather confident that it's better now, but back then it almost got us into a fight. She arrived home mad at me "Why TF aren't you answering me, I texted you multiple times!". I was standing there confused, insisting that I haven't received any, but she's calling BS on that saying that it's been more than an hour already. At that point, my phone starts pinging with the default iMessage tune (you can tell this was a while ago, i.e. before the watch era, as I actually had notification sounds on). "Oh, I see. These ones. Well, you just saw why I couldn't answer them any earlier". Needless to say, we switched to another communication app after that.
It's unfortunate that Apple keeps pulling these lock-in stunts when they could be competing based on quality and user experience instead. I'm currently rather annoyed with Apple not providing any Find My/Family solution for Android so that I could see my daughter's location and approve her app/extra time requests without having to carry an iPhone with me for that. For after all, Google offers the parents' version of Family Link to iOS as well, but if you've got an iPhone to your child, you need an iPhone yourself to use any kind of parental controls. But if you get your child an Android device, you're still free to pick either platform for yourself thanks to Google serving also the other camp.
Luckily for me, my daughter has been asking for an Android phone as her next device. Or more precisely something that has the pattern unlock option she's seen her friends and teacher using. My son also had an iPhone first, but then wanted an Android like all his friends did. With the way iPhone prices have gone lately at this side of the pond, I'm rather happy (and relieved) with their preference.