there's a need for your phone to stay functional past a year. my samsung phone died after a year, with a year before i get a new one (verizon does that new every 2 thing, and i really can't afford a new phone every year). the screen stopped lighting up so i could make calls but couldn't see who i was calling (unless i had the number memorized) or texting. i wound up trashing that phone and started using my sister's boyfriend's old phone but now the 4 and 7 keys don't really work.what does it matter about a phone aslong as you can talk on it?
are phones the new car then? "yeah my car has an 8 gigamondo sooped up engine with 9 valve turbo falangies and 85 inch wheels"
"yeah but all you do is drive it to the factory and back every day in bumper to bumper traffic...and you have no friends"
for me, having a cell phone is pretty practical, and not a show-off game. i do a lot of driving and it's nice knowing that i can make a phone call if my car breaks down or if i get lost (which is often). i've even made a few good samaritan phone calls for cars stuck on the side of the road or accidents. cell phones are NOT inherently bad.