iOS has an App Library screen that you can access from the rightmost home screen, and it organizes the apps automatically. The App Library groups similar apps into one folder, which it also names for you, and you can’t drag apps into other groups to rearrange. I pretty quickly found it unusable and just use the Search feature.

In a way, I got used to it by ignoring it.

> Overall, I just want to have control to make the phone work for me

I'm a year into my first iPhone and have learned that you have to give up some control with this OS. I can't even set up the Home Screen to best suit my usage. I'm stuck with a Today panel I can't disable and an App Drawer that's annoying to navigate (and also can't disable). Home Screen, widgets, and placement -- basic UI customization I was used to on Android is a lost cause here.

Your notification needs are ahead of my basic ones but even my basic usage leaves me wanting. For example, the notch renders the status bar useless. No room for any of those helpful icons that let you glance down at one spot to see what's waiting. The Shortcuts app does have options to automate some email actions and that might be what you're looking for, but I haven't personally put that to use.