@RL_Dane @pixelherodev
1) I mean, there are other terminal emulators, but I like foot specifically. Fits my needs exactly.
2) I think I saw a couple others? I know there's swaylock-effects which is a fork, but it doesn't add the features I want. Part of the problem is that to my understanding wayland only recently got a proper locking protocol. Perhaps things will be getting better as lockers update with the new protocol.
3) I used i3lock-color. Pretty great and super customizable.