What's so good about buying an iPhone outright?

[aristobrat]

Wow really? That's outrageous. Here you have special bring your own phone plans which are significantly cheaper than those you get if you get the phone too. It's actually better to buy a phone outright and go on a cheap plan.

The message you quoted was from 2013. Since then, most of the major US carriers have programs in place that give you either a $15 or $25/month discount on your phone service, if you either buy the phone outright, or use their 0% financing (and pay for it monthly until it's paid off).