I can add a little context and a few counterpoints:

Purism repeatedly delayed their phone for years

Many crowdfunded devices are delayed for years, many of which are never released. The global pandemic and chip shortage certainly did not help move things along any faster.

charged exorbitant amounts for it compared to their competitors

Purism also funded/developed phosh and many other libraries which allow mobile Linux to be where it is today. Competitors are mainly hardware vendors and rely heavily on community support, many of which never provide any financial support or direct contributions toward FOSS development.

changed their refund policy

Purism certainly could have done a better job at proactively constructing a more clear and comprehensive refund policy, clarifying crowdfunding vs pre-order (and what is meant by “pre-order”), etc. Purism also could have done a better job being transparent and communicative about its refund queue.

The Librem 5 is a scam

Despite the phone taking much longer to release than anticipated, it was eventually released. How is that a scam?

a few hours of battery life

This is not the common trend. Many software improvements have been developed since, and most users report much more than “a few hours” of battery life - especially with auto-suspend enabled.

a 720p IPS display

A higher resolution would consume more power, thus exacerbating your previous complaint.

no waterproofing

The Librem 5 uses removable WWAN and WLAN/BT modules, as well as a removable battery. Waterproofing would require a fully sealed system which would be much less user-serviceable.

i.MX8M CPU, 3 GB of RAM

Rockchip, Allwinner, and NXP chips have the best mainline Linux support for any FOSS-focused Linux device. 3 GB is the memory limit for this CPU, which is often used in commercial/industrial/automotive environments.

they apparently don’t know the abbreviation for megapixel is ‘MP’, not ‘Mpx’, which is kind of embarrassing

Purism also hires staff across the globe, and this abbreviation may differ within the author’s country.

In the meantime, the Liberty phone seems to be the closest option for a US-made smartphone. While not entirely comprised of US-sourced components, the PCBs are manufactured in California, as well as device packaging and assembly.

April 10 update: Right on time, the author of the OP’s linked article has now published an article on the Liberty phone.

If anyone remembers the Mycroft Mark II Voice Assistant Kickstarter and was disappointed when development challenges and patent trolls caused the company’s untimely demise, know that hope is not lost for a FOSS/OSHW voice assistant insulated from Big Tech…

FAQ: OVOS, Neon, and the Future of the Mycroft Voice Assistant

Disclaimer: I do not represent any of these organizations in any way; I just believe in their mission and wish them all the success in getting there by spreading the word.