And it's still terrible at low-latency response compared w/ iOS...

That has been sorted out, but you need to make use of NDK APIs like AAudio, and naturally own a flagship device, so are the Google ways.

The NDK wouldn't be a problem, but requiring powerful devices speaks volumes about how lacking is Android in that field, when one can build low latency synthesizers and effects using a cheap old Raspberry PI 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtU8jMtbplE

Yeah, but that isn't running a managed runtime on top, and all the security knobs turned on to mitigate classical C and C++ CVEs.

Most maker audio devices are making use of bare metal with Cortex and ESP32 chips, if the ultimate performance on the cheap is the goal.