You do realize that hardware is only part of the experience of owning a device, right?

Good software can make up for *some* deficiencies in hardware. That being said, Windows Phones would have a lot easier time competing if they could check off a couple more spec boxes, and Nokia can't build a new camera stack soon enough; the UI is nice but it could perform LOTS better.

MMS is the sending format for picture messages, right? If so... What?

Sure it can be aggravatingly slow sometimes, but pic messaging has on many occasions saved my bacon from buying the "wrong" tablecloth/pantiliners/Strawberry Shortcake figure/any-number-of-other things-I-don't-care-enough-about-to-differentiate-among. Snap a pic, get the boss lady's approval, then I'm blameless if it turns out wrong. That is just one good reason.

Yes, I know pictures can be emailed, but it's nice to keep the visual aids within the context of an existing SMS conversation. Maybe your phones just make it too much of a PITA? I find it almost universally easy and convenient (with the exception of the occasional slowness I mentioned).