This would mean that google intends to make it fundamentally impossible to backup an android phone, complete with app settings.

Why, I'm unsure, but I figure it part of the increasing lock-in and removal of openness in Android that Google has been trending toward for a few years now.

They need to step up their backup game. It's the only thing I truly miss about switching to android. With iOS you could always restore your device to what it was before. But with android, even with the Google backup service there are so many gaps left. Homescreen icons organisation, app settings, even android settings themselves or not always properly saved or restored.

I really like the idea of using adb to manage a phone from a terminal. Please don't do this!

Of course, Google's backup service still works. How nice of them!

Most apps I tried to backup using adb has already disabled backup themself..

Has adb backup/restore actually worked for you? Not for me. Backup, sure. Restore, not so much.

And that, is why I root my phones.

This will be because you can't backup DRM keys and other hardware secrets, and that makes life hard for app developers.

So i'm supposed to waste a day setting up my phone now... Amazing

Cool. I recently used adb to backup a phone that's screen broke.

Good. Backup and restore has always been clumsy and broken.