I guess it's rathet hard to satisfy GrapheneOS requirements in 200 bucks budget. Things like at least 5 years of updates.

Also requires a pretty new/high-end CPU for MTE and a separate secure enclave.

The secure element can be on the same CPU die as Apple does with the SEP but a device with only TrustZone wouldn't meet the requirements. It also needs to be a high quality implementation providing the expected features.

Thanks for the clarification!

That's already required if you want to sell the device in the EU (or EEA?) at all. So far, Motorola hasn't left the market with their low-end devices so I presume they intend to deliver on the updates

Why? Some cheap smartphones are really powerful enough, the Software is bloated enough to feel sluggish

Yes, please. It's a shame that privacy as a feature so often comes with a hefty price tag.

Perhaps €200 is too low as price, but I don't get why generally only flagships (900+) are considered the only citizens to get that support. I remember the time only OnePlus flagship phones got the best LineageOS support back then, while older, cheaper ones hadn't

Lineageos support depends on volunteers. If no volunteers have the device and nobody donated one to someone willing to do the work, then it doesn't happen.