Will you convince all your friends and family to start running GrapheneOS?

Probably not but you still need to have someone to someone to communicate with even if you manage to install it. If you can't get it on the mainstream app stores it will just be a niche app for "privacy nerds" and drug dealers (in the EU at least..)

All the drug dealers are on Telegram already, they need a hassle free way to communicate with their customers.

Customers as a voluminous body of users can't be underestimated as a solid block of shade for the whistleblowers and journalists