So basically the cost of the network service is now just to assume and include the cost of the phone every year? In other words if I had my own phone fully paid off I would not be able to find a cheaper service then someone needing a carrier subsidized phone?
Sprint either doesn't provide any BYOD info on their website or it is really hard to find. So, for Sprint, alone, perhaps your assumption is correct.
But, otherwise, No. That is not a good assumption. In general, these are separate programs for those who do want a new phone every year. Or, just the option to jump to whatever the newest phone is. Whether it is Next, or Edge, iPhone for Life, or Jump on Demand -- they optional.
If you just want to pay for bare network service, sans any subsidy, because you own a wholly paid off cell phone, Verizon and T-Mobile, allow you to do so. Their base phone plans include no subsidy, at all.
AT&T will let you bring a phone to their network, but the carrier subsidy is still built in. AT&T will give you a discount, though. $15/mo standard. Or $25/mo if you choose the 10gb data service plan. Or in otherwords, unless you choose the 10gb data service plan, you'll still pay $5/mo for a subsidy that you don't get any benefit from.