You can ditch the smartphone, but you cannot yet ditch the QR code. Keep one Android or iPhone in a drawer for setup, and you are free to communicate from your laptop, smartwatch, or flip phone forever.
The good news is that It requires a few workarounds, but staying connected on your own terms is entirely possible. whatsapp sans smartphone
WhatsApp’s "Companion Mode" allows you to link up to four additional devices to your main account. You can ditch the smartphone, but you cannot