Yeah same, I remember initially feeling the Outlook integration was extremely clunky, for example, but there's a big simplicity to being able to grab a recurring meeting link and then just attach it to any meeting regardless of whether it's rescheduled or has an unusual pattern.
Teams is much more annoying in this regard since it pretty much requires calendar integration for the meeting to work. Trying to set up any new meeting regenerates the meeting link, and it's maddening. Like just let these two things not be connected if I want.
There's really a lot of good value devices out there once you get past the barely functional underpowered cheapo range.
Also though.. you spent $250 on a phone just while waiting for your main phone to be repaired?