Thanks to the commenters.
Given encouragement…
- Initially, my Pixel 6 was running Google Android 14, auto-updated to July 2024
- Used Google’s Android Flash Tool to install latest stock Android 13 (September 2023)
- Booted this several times, and tested phone (4G calling enabled) and 5G mobile data
- Successfully followed /e/os install instructions for Pixel 6 oriole, version 2.1
- Booted this several times and checked phone & mobile data as above
All appears to be well.
About slots and bootloaders, I don’t understand completely, but I’ll trust that each slot has a bootable version, and I’m not intending to mess with them. Glad to have /e/os running now!
Cheers,
KJU