I can't help but be a bit confused by the Pixel 5 rumours/news, they have supposedly made it cheaper, and reduced specs compared to flagship phones of other brands, isn't this just what the 'a' versions do? Why can't they stick to making a high-end flagship to compete directly with the iPhone / Samsung phones and keep the 'a' range for targeting the mid-range sector?
Every year comes a new Pixel and every year it sells chuff-all compared to the competition. Maybe Google thought it was time to change strategy, but perhaps if they figured out how to nail down an attractive flagship that didn't rely on gimmicky or unsupported features that get dropped a year later, they might sell some more phones.
Personally, I'd like to see them get the basics right - 8gb/128gb or 12gb/256gb models. Top spec SoC, Wide, UW and Telephoto cameras, big enough battery and all-screen display (this last feature being something they just started getting right with the 4a). How hard can it be?