It's not just "handsets are expensive, so we're selling them on an installment plan" or "because we provide locked-in service." It's because the cell phone companies, and indeed almost every other business, does not want a revenue stream at slightly above the cost of providing their service. Cell service providers want the greatest possible monthly revenue stream, which will almost certainly result in a higher margin, to occur over the conract period and beyond. They figured most of us wouldn't trade in their handsets every 2 years, which resulted in nice margins once the handsets were paid off. Did you see your cell bill drop after 2 years? I didn't.

If the cell phone companies could have gotten away with locking customers into 3-year+ contracts they would have, but that's a separate issue

It's not just T-Mobile nibbling away at AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon 2-year contracts. It's MVNOs putting pressure on the sacred 2-year contract, too.

At the risk of burning karma points, here's a consumer-focused article I wrote describing how MVNOs might save a consumer money in monthly service fees: http://www.bills.com/bills-blo...

Green Tortise still operates. The event also contracted with a bus company last year to transport more participants departing from the Bay Area. It is my understanding this will continue to expand.

Yes. It's still worth attending.

The art is amazing. It's unlike any other. Some is utter crap, but for the most part, the art is difficult to describe in type and scale.

The art cars and art bikes are also unlike anything elsewhere. Imagine steampunk, but operational. With flame effects.

The raves are fine if that's what you like. I don't, so I ignore them.

Haselton, what jnelson4765 said.

Join the Gate Perimeter & Exodus Dept., work in the lanes for a few shifts, and then I imagine you would see the enormous flaw in your proposal. All participants need to buy into any Exodus plan, and abide by its rules voluntarily. This is spelled out in the FAQ. I doubt all participants would abide by your idea voluntarily, and once a few start busting lanes, everyone else will and all hell breaks loose.

The GPE people, and I'm one of them, work hard to make event entry and exit as quick and painless as possible. It's in everyone's best interest to do so. Join GPE, and you may see another idea once you're part of the team. Contact me privately and I'll talk you through the department sign-up process, and become part of the solution.

Been using SunRocket for two years now with no complaints about SunRocket per se. Comcast, our high-speed ISP, is less than reliable.

Have no idea if Verizon's patents apply to SunRocket.