I think there is a great selection of "phones" which are great for calling (Press Dial) and ****** at doing anything else - minimal to no music playing ability (no video either), lame browser run on a tiny screen, almost no apps, terrible operating system, etc etc.
i think this argument of yours of "want a phone first" doesn't hold much water. If you want it to ONLY be a phone, then ONLY make calls on it. The thing is that an iphone is an all-in-one phone which is a phone, an ipod, an internet communicator.... i'll say it again, a phone, an ipod, an internet communicator....
It is not that. An example of a phone pulls of the phone first part is the blackberry. It still boils down to its primary function is to be a phone. The other parts is a 2ndary part of it.
The iPhone I feel gave up to much of it phone function to the other stuff first. For some people that is great. Just it is to far past the balance part for my taste