It still exists, just not for us consumers. How else they gonna force us to use the newer networks that cost so much to build.
2G is now available only to commercial entities using it for data connections for remote reporting stuff. Oil fields still use it for SCADA reporting, for example.
I had it flashed with LineageOS and would still legitimately use it as a daily driver if its charge would last longer than it takes for me to disconnect it from the charger and bring it outside my doorstep.
I had also bought a replacement battery but it was still so old that it barely made any difference.