But don't you think we should learn from the stuff we've made that *has* survived? It isn't necessarily the cheapest or the most refined, but the design and manufacturing most appropriate to the function. Think Wall-E or the 1994 Honda Accord that I intend to drive for another 10 years with every single thing still working.

If I get a pay-as-you-go phone, the minutes cost much more than a monthly plan if I use the phone often.

Not sure how you define "often", but TracFone plans start around $0.20/minute and get below $0.10/minute if you buy an annual plan or use one of their occasional deals. Perfectly fine phones start at $10, making TCO as cheap as any other pre-paid or monthly service. Their game is to make you keep buying minutes, but if you do the math on their plans, the best per minute costs are also the longest expiration times. (And everything rolls over if you add more time before.) Great network coverage, too, as they use the major carriers' systems.