Imei/Imsi
And why are they harder/easier to track for adversary X then the PC desktop is for adversary X?
I am not sure I understand your question, but I thing you mean about the compative tech.
Ethernet has no been created for roaming and tracking (and spectrum reuse) at it’s core.
4G and 5G were created just for that, The cellphone company require to track every device that acess their network in order to make money.
Another aspect to consider is that wireless is a share responsability. When I operate my home wired network, to only privacy I have to manage is the ISP and Internet. That not’s the case with cell phone and even WIFI.
Can you describe an adversary and then argue why this adversary can better track a phone then a desktop?
The ISP knows where every of its IP is located.
You can operate a phone with a system like GrapheneOS on Wifi only without ever leaving aerplane mode.
If someone does this, how is that person eassier to track then someone on a PC?
About a specific adversary, no I am not aware of such a scenario.
GrapheneOS on wifi only is a good privacy tool, I agree.
About ISP knowledge, it would not know your data if you use a good vpn.
I mean what is you threat model?
So your problem is not the phone but cellular data?
The ISP will always know the location of each stationary endpoint in its system.
Speaking of VPNs, the VPN can also hide your cellular IP and therefore prevent the other side from knowing it.
For the basic about HLR, I suggest your listen:
I am totally aware that sim cards can be tracked, but this is not the smame as phones beeing tracked.
You can have a phone without a sim card and PC with a sim card.