Yes, JS-heavy websites are a nightmare for most non-recent hardware. Nobody promised you that you won't have to make any compromises to fight for your freedom though.
> my phone being locked down by my employer's IT policy
This is basically lying, whereas I truly own a legitimate smartphone which they do not support - and they have to respond somehow.
>So many things that used to work without a smartphone don’t anymore and people don’t realize it.
Have you considered using a GNU/Linux phone (Librem 5 or Pinephone)? There is no dependence on a megacorp and QR codes work fine. Some services might redirect you to a web app if you show them such phone.
Have a look at Heads. It uses TPM with a hardware key to verify the boot integrity without proprietary blobs and with full control of the user. Works for me.
The parent gave the price tag, and I replied with the corresponding device. With good software, Pinephone can smoothly play videos, show map directions and browse the web with NoScript, https://sxmo.org/
The privacy tools that are working today will be much easier to block. Hence, any activists and journalists that the government dislikes will become even more vulnerable. We need to fight this and not give up.
I can use most native GNU/Linux apps on my Librem 5 like gnome-calculator, gnome-calender, gnome-weather etc. I can run Android apps via Waydroid. F-Droid works fine, too. Its default app store (https://software.pureos.net/categories) provides things like music players, OTP app, and games. Flatpak works, too.