Yes, again it certainly doesn't cover every base. And it is easy to rationalize needing anything.
The question would be how often you've needed to actually use 911 before. In my case, that's been never, so, while I am certainly at a disadvantage should my long-term "luck?" run out, I save several thousand dollars each year to have to go a little bit further in the rare emergency situation. Instead of 3 digits, I'll have to dial 10 when away from home. At home, I've got the local emergency services in my call list, so that will be one click instead of 3. Many 911 situations involve others too, so others may be 911'ing while I'm 1 or 10-digit dialing. Nutshell: I don't see this as a very big deal myself. Many people never actually use 911.
And I do not live in a major city. But work and home- where I spend the bulk of my waking hours- both have free wifi. Those times in between when not driving from one to the other are relatively little slices of time. However, at any time, if I need to connect, I simply buy cellular data at that time. Then I'm as connected as anyone else: 3 months for $30. 1 year always connected: $120. There's lots of people paying up towards that $120 each MONTH.
Watch has much functionality that doesn't need iPhone. But select functions DO need iPhone. So, if me, that would come down to how badly I want those functions that rely on iPhone vs. how much of that I can accomplish on the Mini instead.
As you can see here, little compromises to this way. But those save me a couple thousand each year and I don't feel mad compulsion to buy a new mobile every year or two without giving up the latest versions of iOS. Some Watch function, Carplay, 911 worries, etc IS enough for others to rationalize phone or phone + tablet(s). I just prefer to get almost everything they get without spending those extra thousands.
