Ed: I understand the informal cringing at going off topic, but that always seemed to be a tempest in a teapot as far as I was concerned. Seems that many subjects (threads?) naturally go a bit off course in a sensible way and the whole issue is (or should be) unimportant when the discussion takes a logical turn, just as this one has.
Back on topic (maybe not), I like my iPhone. I'd been a Verizon customer for years and but for the need to switch to ATT for the iPhone, I'd probably still be with Verizon. I had no problems with Verizon. In fact, I still have an account with them for my wife's phone.
When hers comes up for renewal, we are thinking about getting her an iPhone, too. So unless Verizon and the other carriers take on the iPhone (which they may from what I hear, but who knows when?), we'll probably switch completely to ATT and leave Verizon.
After looking at all the options for smartphones out there, I chose the iPhone because of the Mac connection and its compatibility with two of my cars with built-in bluetooth. I probably would have gone with a Palm-based smartphone (available through Verizon) had it been on the list of BT-compatible BMW's. But it wasn't.
The ATT phone signal has been strong wherever I go and so far I've had no trouble with ATT or the iPhone.
I've been able to put my Palm-based PDA and iPod in the drawer and rely solely on the iPhone for all my scheduling, critical notes (horn and gun serial numbers, passwords lists, etc.), contact-lists, photos, convenient camera, and iPod uses. Plus, the iPhone receives e-mail and the Internet, so it will be handy when we travel - no need to pack a laptop.
I'm sure other smartphones provide similar uses, but with the pending law-change in CA (and maybe elsewhere), the iPhone had everything I wanted except for continuing Verizon service. Changing cellphone services was easy enough, but I did have to pay a $100.00+ cancellation fee. No big deal for me in the long run. DAVE