errrr, their network is much better now because:

1) Someone is paying so the company can afford to run the machines and add capacity where it is needed
2) People use the service with some small amount of care, because if they over-use it, they lose something too (the money)

Humans (and animals in general) are generally not able to use good sense in consuming valuable resources that look "free", and even more so when whatever they are consuming is an intangible. Networks take a *lot* of money to run well - people have forgotten that mobile anything is a miracle of technology.

Yes, carriers charge pretty much what it costs to send a text message, and keep the infrastructure that the message traveled over running. People who work at carriers aren't all driving around in Ferraris, you know.

What people forget is that it costs a *lot* of money to run a network, especially if that network is going to be any good. No one is forcing you to use the service - if you don't want to spend the money, then just step away from the mobile phone, and go home and use your ADSL or Cable, or even better, write a letter.

What you are paying for is the convenience of having the mobile network always on and always with you. It's a luxury, and you pay for it as a luxury item.

"For all intensive purposes" should be "For all intents and purposes". Ironic, given the context we find it in.