Ereader

Well, android 11 isn’t too old and they do update pretty often.

Kobo sage is is often named dropped

The libra 2 is really good too I hear. Though it’s 7in.

I'm not sure I understand your concern. If the alternative is getting an Android tablet or iPad then I agree that being locked in a previous version of the OS can be a disappointing experience, but the Boox devices are primarily e-readers which, since they run on Android, can also double as tablets for some tasks. When you compare it to the other e-ink alternatives, I'd say the Boox devices probably age the best, since even if the company drops support you can still find APKs around to make new uses. As for the basics - reading, taking notes, browsing occasionally - you're already well suited, so no need to worry much about upgrades.

Mine is the original Nova Air and (as you can probably tell) I like it a lot. What other choices are you considering?

There aren't a lot of non-Android options at 8". There's the Kobo Sage, and the Pocketbook Inkpad Color. And that's kind of it.

Nothing wrong with Android per se, but yeah, Boox generally doesn't upgrade the OS, and only offers occasional feature/security updates. They also don't allow rolling back firmware if there's an issue.

I have a Boox Nova 2 that I bought in late 2020 and it's stuck on Android 9. Given security concerns, I disable Google Play and generally keep it offline, as well as using Netguard. But personally, I'd avoid an Android based eReader unless it suits your specific purposes. The Nova 2 did for me at the time but I no longer need a lot of the functionality, I'm retiring it for a Paperwhite Signature soon.