Well first of all, trading in and buying it unlocked means you don't have to buy one of the most expensive plans and you can use it with any carrier and plan that you want. If you do the math, this could save you money pretty easily. And second, Apple is offering $620 for the 14 pro max, so the value will likely be almost the same for the 15 Pro Max as well.
But it all depends on how many lines you have. If you only have a single line, paying $76/month just to get an extra $380 in trade in savings makes no sense. Maybe it makes more sense if you have multiple lines, but even then I hate the idea of being locked into a plan.
Or if you want actual unlimited data that doesn't get throttled, and U.S based customer service.
Not sure about the other carriers, but AT&T also allows customers to borrow up to $1,200 towards accessories over 12 months -- no credit check and no interest.
Also, no other carrier other than AT&T provides a network solely made for First Responders.
Straight Talk, for example, isn't unlimited, even though their advertisement says so.
Many also report being capped at 60GB.
You're also paying $45-$55 a line, no matter how many lines you have.
Boost Mobile... $25 for one line --- Only 30 GB of "high speed data" for their "unlimited."
With Visible --- you're stuck with Verizon's crappy "5G network" that you'll have to switch to 4G to get anything to load.
Spectrum will always raise your introductory rate after the first year and caps your data to 50GB.
The smart solution is to get either your family or your buddies together and get a 3-5 line plan with more features and capabilities. You're also screwed if you need in person help. SIM card fried? "Sorry, you're out of service for a couple of days until we can send you a new one." Want a new phone today? "Sorry, we'll have it on your doorstep in 2-3 days."