[sfennell]

My biggest issue with buying an unsubsidized phone is that I would still be paying the carrier a premium for subsidizing a phone purchase (to my understanding) without actually getting that benefit. (I guess there are other carriers, I have not actually bothered to look) In the end I just seem to be loosing about $400 or so since my phone bill remains the same, but I have to spend more to buy the phone.

[theBobMcCormick]

Actually, as another poster already pointed out, with TMobile you don't have to pay the carrier a premium. They have a set of plans (called "Even More Plus") that are unsubsidized and are cheaper monthly.

Since the initial N1 model used the Tmobile 3G bands, it made a perfect match, and a great deal for anyone willing to do the math.