(This question is related to Can't access Google Docs with different email?, which starts with the same difficulty. But that question does not address the workaround I present here, and thus does not answer any questions about the workaround presented here. Therefore this question is not a duplicate of that question.)
I have a Google account in the form example@gmail.com. I would prefer not to share my example@gmail.com address.
I have another address me@example.com. I have added me@example.com both 1) as an alternate email to my Google account, and 2) as an additional "About Me" email to my Google account. In my experience this has allowed others to share Google Docs with me@example.com, and I have been able to access those Google Docs without sharing my example@gmail.com email and without creating any new accounts.
Today someone shared a Google Drive folder with my me@example.com email address using "contribute to" permissions. I clicked on the link, and Google showed that I was signed in with my example@gmail.com account, saying:
You need access
Ask for access, or switch to an account with access.
I read at How to Access a Shared Google Drive without Creating a Gmail Account that I can actually sign up for Google Drive with a separate Google Drive account using my me@example.com email address without indicating a Google account. According to that blog, this would allow me access to the Google Drive folder that was shared with me@example.com.
But what impact will creating a separate Google Drive account with me@example.com have on my Google account, which already has me@example.com listed as an alternate email and as an "About Me" email? Can the new Google Drive function completely independently? Will it cause any conflicts? Will it prevent me from using me@example.com with my main Google account in any capacity?