"So one money sucking leech has attached itself to another money sucking leech?"

Pretty much. And a pox on 'em both too in IMO. I'm sticking with a "stupid" phone myself (i.e., telephone and text messages only; no camera, no Internet, etc.). As for the smart phone taking over from the notebook computer as the principle Internet access device? I don't think so. Not for me anyhow. [The iPhone Is a Nightmare For Carriers]