Ended up getting this for $4.99: Dzxouui for LG Velvet Case. yes, it sits a bit on the edge of the lens area, but does not block the lens when a pic is taken. so many velvet phone cases have this issue. what genius thought this was a good idea to design variants that shift the camera by 1mm or 2?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DHS9MRM/

seems to be the closest thing that i used to have with my S-Line TPU case on my old v20 phone. it's rubbery TPU, and does the job. just wish it had side indented grips and enough height to protect the screen, but i didnt see any velvet covers that really did that. overall a very poor design on the LG velvet to use a beveled raised glass and really poor gimmick to have a curved glass, since it introduces an easy breaking point edge. but for the $90 that i paid, it is what it is. end of rant.

the plastic would worry me slipping out of my hands or pocket. i went with a china brand tpu case for $4.99. its got a rough rubber around it and its got a great grip, which answers my biggest worry. yeah, it covers the lens bezel at tiny bit, but not the lens, so whatever. cant win them all.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DHS9MRM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1