Y'all know I'm a cheapskate, and like to overanalyze things. I'm really struggling with this.
I have in the past bought my handsets outright, and the used a cheap prepaid plan. Obviously, "mainline carriers" let you finance the handset over the contract term if you want. Seems like an appealing option if you are cash poot today, but can afford the monthly. Also brings risks, since most of those plans have a "bring it back" component that basically means you are leasing the phone, or are liable for returning it in good condition in 24 months, which seems like an iffy proposition.
I figure changing carriers will increase my plan costs by $60/mo, and the phone would be $20/mo on top of that. For 24 months, that seems like a hell of a lot more than the cost of buying the handset itself, even if I get a good one.
So, what say you? I want an S24 handset and a Can/USA plan, and today, I pay $34/mo for the plan. I could just spend the thousand bucks on the handset.
EDIT: Potential Mar thread warning should have been at the top.