I still have the old style phone, technically it's not a "flip" phone but it's basically the same. It doesn't even take photos. It's super cheap and costs me less than $200 a year.

Honestly, I don't really like phones and I've almost gotten to the point where its a personal goal to see how long I can hold out. I don't like talking on the phone, I don't like be bothered for work stuff when I'm not at work. People who are on them constantly get on my nerves, getting in my way in traffic, or at the store, etc. I go out to eat with my family and I'll see 4 people sitting at another table not talking to each other, all on their phones. These idiots never have anything important to talk about, they're just chatting away with another idiot who's got nothing better to do.

For me, it's just another way for people to ask me to do stuff that I usually don't want to do. Also, when I look back at the money I've saved by not having that monthly bill (well over 10 Gs), it makes it really hard for me to buy one. It's not that I can't afford one, it's just that I sort of despise the concept and I start seeing the phone as a symbol of other things I can spend the money on.

Then there's the fact that the telephone companies royally screwed consumers when they went from pay for what you use to these "plans". I just disagree with that concept, which is why I still use pay-as-you-go prepaid cards.

That being said, texting with those numbers is annoying as hell. LOL. That's probably the main reason I'll eventually buy one. There are also lots of times when smart phones come in handy, but like you said, usually somebody else has the phone to deal with it.

All in all, I just don't care that much about a phone. Everyone around me seems to be super-enthralled with them but I'd rather be doing something else.