How? I mean without owning an iPhone at all, not without yours nearby. I'm aware they have 4G. I mean for Android/dumbphone users.

yeah it’s kinda lame, I would like to switch to a epaper phone and still use my Apple Watch

Is that a workaround for the increasing number of “no phone” policies?

More of an attempt to give a kid a communication device that doesn’t make it too easy and pleasant to be distracted from real life.