> Instead, I install whatever app I need to be involved in a group.

While it wouldn't be their preference, I'm sure most Android users wouldn't mind installing iMessage to better talk with their iPhone friends.

That would require iMessage being an open standard, or Apple releasing a client for Android. Some commenters mention that the Digital Markets Act might force Apple to do this. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, and assuming they don't want to open iMessage, it would be nice of them to just support a better fallback option.