I always got the phone that came with my plan until recently. I just wanted to see what all the fuss about pda's was. So I got a blackberry for like $100 from ebay, then I got a Treo 650 for like a day. I sold both of them and I am back to the regular contract phone. They were both okay phones but I would never have bought them new for like $600. I dont see how anyone can justify that kinda phone, esp. because they break easily and then you're out $600.