IMO Android architecture does offer an advantage relative to vanilla Linux in the way that it creates a well-defined separation between kernel (+ drivers) and user space development, somewhat fixing the OS fragmentation. It helps prevent users getting locked out of the latest version of the OS just because the device manufacturer didn't update their BSP. It's the reason why Samsung offers 5 years of device updates and Pixel offers 7 now.
https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture/kernel/gen...