So I turned off iMessage in my settings just because I do not want the ability for people to see when I am replying back, with that do I still receive iMessages from people that have it enabled or does it come as a text message.
It seems, to the OP, it does. Would be nice if it was an option, I suppose, but it certainly isn't enough to dissuade me from using it. I do appreciate being able to turn read receipts off.