>What I mean by that is that if your goal is to use Android Pay, Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Fi etc. and somehow retain some level of privacy, MicroG isn't going to help.
Have you tried using Magisk hide & MagiskHide Props Config to enabled SafetyNet? If SafetyNet is enabled then Google Pay, other Payments & Bank apps might work just fine with MicroG (I haven't tested it, just a theory).
So ignoring the broader issues with the root arms race for a minute (SafetyNet is getting hardware-based verification in future devices, among other things), you and the parent appear to be talking about two different issues.
MagiskHide covers up the fact that your system is modified. When they talk about "somehow retain[ing]... privacy" it's more about telemetry built into the apps themselves.
It's a statement on Chrome, Maps, etc. tracking you when you use them, which is distinct from whether or not specific ones have SafetyNet-induced breakage.
Have you tried using Magisk hide & MagiskHide Props Config to enabled SafetyNet? If SafetyNet is enabled then Google Pay, other Payments & Bank apps might work just fine with MicroG (I haven't tested it, just a theory).