Just a quick thought. These days you can create a special partition in the first part of your drive and just boot from it. No grub, no config really. You might want to take a look at EFI and an EFI system partition perhaps?

+1 for Organic Maps. Create an open streetmap account and contribute - its a game changer for me. Instead of a consumer, you're a contributor. (That goes for all OSM ofc)

Yes. I use QKSMS for text messages now instead.

Very well written article, very much worth a read.