[Toucan]

That seems bizarre in the UK. I pay $24/mo and get truly unlimited data, with tethering included, as well as 2000 minutes and 5000 texts (and receiving doesn't come out of your allowance in the UK, the caller pays that fee).

It's absolutely cheaper to buy devices outright here.

Example of Three's One Plan for a 32GB 5s (£):

  24 mo contract
  Device        99
  Plan          46
  24 mo total = 1203
  
  12 month contract + BYOD
  Device        629
  Plan          15
  24 mo total = 989