> Due to Google Policies, AnkiDroid 2.16+ may no longer access the /AnkiDroid folder when distributed on the Play Store and (re)installed. AnkiDroid will be removed from the Play Store if these changes are not made. Due to these policies, your data is at risk in AnkiDroid 2.16, regardless of whether you migrate storage

This means if you are a new user, you don't sync to web, you uninstall the app and 'delete app data' is checked, you'll lose your collection. Previously it was left in /AnkiDroid. Worth knowing.

Interesting that the delay was due to this new file permissions system. I guess apps can only write to virtual FS now. I'd rather Google didn't keep idiot-proofing android at the expensive of huge amounts of developer time, but oh well. Thanks to the devs for their hard work.