@jsummer Questions are always a good way to learn. 🙂

Partially yes. The thing is that many apps need Google services to run at all. It's not only the Play Store but several services in the background.

That's when alternatives like MicroG kick in. But you have no guarantee that your apps will work.

I personally use F-Droid as a Play Store alternative. F-Droid only lists FOSS apps which doesn't need Play Servcies.

There are other alternatives available, but I personally don't trust them.