If you say no
on initial install to all the Sony "improving your user experience" junk it wants to add / enable then they are not too obtrusive on the cruft front & are not the worst in providing software updates. They are one of the "named" brands I recommend to relatives who don't fancy the idea of a generic / obscure (to them) brand of phone - many of their models having OKish waterproofing no bad thing either
The Sony Xperia lower end phones are good enough for most peoples basic use requirements these days - all the higher end phones (of whatever brand) are slugging it out for a tiny market.