Yep. That's how they get ya.... people like my father-in-law who has far more money than time, just do whatever the person in the store tells them... so switch to these plans it is. Then again, even under contract where phone subsidy is the main perk, he didn't upgrade every 24 months either...so he left some of that $ on the table.
For me, I've done the math and while the new plans appear "cheaper", like you've found, I would lose bonus data and I would lose another discount (well, it'd be reduced) I'm getting on my "more everything" contractual plan. Not to mention, Verizon pays me $450 every year toward a new phone. I have 2 lines on my plan and waaaay back when they still offered 1-year contracts, I put my wife on one. It was like $17 more at the time. Best decision I've made in a long time because now we alternate years for when we're due for a new phone. So this year, early september, I'll get a new phone and if they let me, I'll keep my "more everything" plan and Verizon will pay $450 of my phone cost. Next year, it'll be my wife's line. So over the period of a 24 month contract, Verizon kicks in $900 of phone subsidy. Divide that by 24 (months) and these new plans need to be $37.50 cheaper per month for me to switch.... and they're not....
