Can't link Pixel 7 pro and Chromebook, Google Play System to blame?

I have a Chromebook (Acer spin 713) and Pixel 7 Pro which have been linked before. Recently they are not linked. I also have a work phone (Samsung A32). I used to have my personal Google account signed into all devices, I have since removed it from the work phone. 

I have tried to link the Chromebook and Pixel, but the Chromebook only offers to link the work phone, even after I have disconnected/forgotten it from the Chromebook, and signed out of the personal Google account on the work phone.

I have tried many things, including signing out of my Google account on the Pixel and signing in again; signing in / linking / cleanly unlinking the work phone to the chromebook before trying again to link it to the pixel. I have powerwashed the Chromebook several times, then on signing in to it, I am at first told that there are no eligible phones to link, and that play services has an error, then when play services is set up again, it only offers to link the work phone once more, despite me having removed every trace of that phone I can in my personal Google account.

I have checked play settings, library and devices, and made sure there is no mention there of the work phone. I have clicked off the option to show any older devices there. I checked Google find my device which at one time showed other devices. After my changes elsewhere it now only shows the Pixel 7 Pro (good).

I have tried rebooting all devices and rebooting the pixel in safe mode. No change.

I am at a loss how to get the phone linked to the chromebook, I would really like to use the features but it seems some setting or config somewhere, or some bit of data that google play services holds against my account is leading the software to only suggest linking to my work phone, which is bizarre as it is not referenced elsewhere in my google account. I know it worked before so I suspect it's not a hardware issue. It would probably link to my work phone but I definitely don't want that.

I have checked all devices are fully updated etc.

I don't really want to factory reset the Pixel as it has too many banking apps etc. that I would have to painfully set up again. That's probably the only think I think I haven't tried. 

I am not sure how this problem happened - did I rename a device or did it update and stop working? Should I wait for further updates?

Anyway if anyone has read this far and has any suggestions, please share.