I think you can link a second Whatsapp app, similar to the web client. your primary one needs a webcam to read the QR code though

A JavaScript VM in the kernel is inevitable.

not by any means modern, but I used to really like pal

More than that, your editor doesn’t run with root permissions, which reduces the risk of accidentally overwriting something you didn’t mean to.

it feels to me, like they’re less looking for new people to start doing this “work”, but more to connect with people who already happen to be enthusiastically going to events and showing off their laptops.

The value proposition of old or used android phones as SBCs is insane! You’ve probably got some in your drawers, or can at worst buy some carrier locked ones for 30$. You get a device with better compute than a raspberry pi, with a screen, cameras, speakers, flashlight and battery attached!

Personally, I use them to run and monitor my 3d printers.