Install "Split Screen Shortcut", turn it on in the accessibility settings.

When you say non-intuitive, you're not talking about intuition. Holding a button for split screen not intuitive, it's just something you've learnt. Rows vs piles of cards are essentially the same thing, each with slight benefits.

Reforging muscle memory is an inconvenience, but if Google thinks it has a better UX (copied or not) for non-indoctrinated users, maybe it's worth learning another way.

And the similar-UX business case works both directions.