I've always been a crazy person about my launcher. I knew I was giving it up when I came to Apple but was still surprised at how little it can be customized. I really don't like the swipe down, but that's down to personal preference.
I agree with everything you said, for sure.
You posted late to this thread but made the best point. I don’t even use Apple notifications because they’re so deeply shit. This is the issue that drives my wife crazy. When we talk about our new phones, the first thing she complains about is notifications.