Okay, got a *new* new phone, Moto Stylus 5G 2023, and it seems to actually work as a phone. Gets clear and constant mobile connection, no issues so far... Claws crossed it stays that way.
unfortunately, where the samsung s22 has an actual active stylus, the moto stylus is just a stick with a capacitive bit at the end. It's probably not going to be great for drawing, but I'll take a working phone with bad drawing over a broken phone.