[kevingadd]

"makes it hard to save and make better investments in your future" definitely applies to cell plans, even though it pales in comparison to the cost of health insurance these days.

Even when it comes to smartphone ownership, the poor get screwed. You get better pricing if you have good credit, and if you're going with prepaid or non-credit plans, they charge you even more for subpar service (some features are entirely unavailable). So even if you skimp and buy a cheapo smartphone, you're still getting less value for your money than a middle-class buyer.