That guide is for the most adventurous ones but it doesn't answer my question. If you just keep Phoenix installed, you should be able to even get updates from Google Play and if not, updating from a direct download should be safer than to remove Phoenix, first. If you want to continue using Phoenix, removing it is definitely the wrong choice. The Play Store app would let you uninstall side-loaded apps and if they are signed by the same keys, you could even update side-loaded apps from Google Play. Uninstalling to install from GitHub makes no sense at all unless they signed with a different key. If you uninstall, you risk to lose funds and you inevitably end up incurring on-chain fees.
No you don't lose any funds. Please read Phoenix FAQ page.
So your OP says: Uninstall from Play Store, install from GitHub. That is what I recommend against as it won't make a difference from the perspective of Play Store. It just means messing around with your wallet app and those who forget to make a good backup will inevitably lose funds for nothing. The Play Store doesn't care if you used it to install an app or not. It lets you uninstall apps you did not install using it and it lets you update apps oblivious of the sideloaded app not being signed by the same key. The Play Store app would just issue an obscure error if the signature was from a different key. Unless you de-google your phone in the process, uninstalling is completely unnecessary and only dangerous. Unless Phoenix is planning to force-close on its US users, there is no need to follow their instructions to close channels before a date neither. I hope they stir drama for drama sake only cause in panic is when people lose their funds.
I just did myself the test on a separate device with Google play + an old Phoenix wallet. Had like 2000 sats in it, legacy Phoenix even. 1. Saved the seed 2. Uninstalled from Google Play. 3. Download from Github the apk and install it 4. restored with seed 5. Funds were there just fine. 6. In Google Play account do not appear anymore as installed
That must have changed then. But still, even if you keep it installed on Google Play: installing updates via sideloading should just work. The uninstall step is unnecessary.