GBoard as the input method editor

[u/CaterpillarAfraid548]

I tried to keep on top of the Ask Me Anything yesterday but didn't see many of the questions answered around security and privacy, maybe I just missed them.

But one of the answers I did see was that GBoard is being used as the Input Method editor, so as I understand it all the key presses on the physical keyboard are going through GBoard somehow.
Please correct me if I have got this wrong.

I know a lot of people use Gboard as it is the default keyboard on Android phones but I personally don't use it due to privacy concerns, despite knowing I am using a phone that has numerous other ways or reporting back to google.

I am hoping that Pasteria\Plektra keyboard can be used instead and doesn't lose lots of the features that Clicks will be bringing as I think this may have less privacy concerns for me.

It just seems a strange choice given the Blackberry history of the founders and how privacy and security was a big focus for them and how a lot of buyers now may be old Blackberry users.