you can use android and not use google as evident from huawei's latest devices. at least in my country they are selling just fine even though google services are not enabled.
Huawei has been completely crippled in my country. In Latin American markets at least, people heavily depend on Google services.
I'm talking exclusively about the US. Different markets have different market shares. Different countries have different monopoly and antitrust laws. Limiting it to the biggest market, and the one most germane to HN, is what makes it possible to have a discussion. Otherwise, we're all just talking to ourselves.