Try to get into your gmail without your phone and see what happens.
I just did. No issues, and my email is not linked in with my phone, or I should say, I did not provide Gmail with a contact number. I have a older account that I've had for a long time that never required me to setup a phone number. I think your issue might be due to if you setup a gmail acount within the last 5 years (iirc). However, your reply is just a good reason and example to move to a different email service (like Proton or something else). I don't recall Hotmail asking for a number as well.
I'm not saying you're wrong, or trying to negate you. Just that it might be a setting or the version of gmail you signed up for. Are you US based, or international (not sure if that even matters)?
I just did. No issues, and my email is not linked in with my phone, or I should say, I did not provide Gmail with a contact number. I have a older account that I've had for a long time that never required me to setup a phone number. I think your issue might be due to if you setup a gmail acount within the last 5 years (iirc). However, your reply is just a good reason and example to move to a different email service (like Proton or something else). I don't recall Hotmail asking for a number as well.
I'm not saying you're wrong, or trying to negate you. Just that it might be a setting or the version of gmail you signed up for. Are you US based, or international (not sure if that even matters)?