Despite my best efforts to time this for my return from Sweden, my second replacement Pixel 2 XL arrived on the day we flew home. No matter: We were able to arrange with a neighbor to grab it off our front porch---apparently, a $1000 phone in a tiny, easily stolen box doesn't require a signature in my neighborhood---and I was able to get the new handset up and running this morning.

And I have a few observations, and perhaps even a few conclusions about the Pixel 2 XL as a result.