Just to summarize the answers I've gotten so far to my Android emoji question:
- I don't use emoji because my age is two digits
- Root your phone and accept the potential goatse that comes with it
- Deal with it
Which, honestly, is the same answers I get to most of my questions related to Android. And people wonder why I prefer iOS.
That said, both Android and iOS have redeeming qualities and those that are dealbreakers. They suck, and the alternatives suck worse. The trick is figuring out which set of tradeoffs you're willing to live with.