I don't have many apps and I tend to curate those that I do have, so in general not much of a heavy user such as full screen mobile gaming.
My most recent experience trying to use Google Play for a purchase was "INSERT US SIM CARD TO CONTINUE" after applying the code. While in US, on a US cell tower (on eSIM). This is after applying the code, so it's been consumed and is now useless and can't be used to buy anything either.
Samsung is still probably my top hated OEM. Everything from a Bixby key you can't disable and marketing you can't opt out of (mandatory push notifications from an un-uninstallable system app that deliver fullscreen image push advertising their new products) to Samsung store taking over random shortcuts and containing nothing but shitware to put it nicely, inability to unlock phones, ludicrously bad security track record, all while trying to sell you a "premium" $1.5k device