I still use my 5 year old LaserJet 2200DN for exactly the same reason. It's dependable, sturdy and it duplexes. It's not fancy, but it does what I need it to do.

In my experience, even if you do decide to enter into a monthly plan including a certain number of texts a month, when you go to renew your contract, the plan no longer exists as you signed it previously.

My mother, a senior citizen, uses her phone for emergencies and sometimes, but rarely, to call family members. She has never sent a TXT message and has no desire to do so. When her recent contract expired, she went to renew it. She was not even able to get a plan that did not include TXT fees. When she asked for a plan that included a few hundred minutes a month and no TXT provisions, she was told that such a plan wasn't even offered.

A la carte plans used to be offered, but the cellular companies have, for the most part, eliminated them. Not every customer even wants data and TXT capability.

I personally like to be able to send a TXT message, but I don't like that there is no control or oversight that exists to check the rising cost.