No. I will say "that's what you choose to pay more money
for".  When they deregulated the airlines a lot of small
towns in the sticks no longer had service at any price.

Cell service is not classified as a necessity (yet). They
don't have to provide service and you don't have to
buy it if they do and over price it. Why not rail against
Sprint for not providing decent service in those areas
at their lower prices?

I'm not defending the price hikes ("gouging"). I'm just
saying that it's simple supply and demand. If the price
is too high don't buy it. I sure don't want to pay more
but I don't have delusions that they "owe" me service
at some price I think is reasonable. I'll buy from whatever
company meets my needs for the lowest price. If it can't
be had for a price that's worth it to me I'll do without.

-Quick

If they were having a problem with some customers (ab)using
their stores too much, then a simpler solution would be
to say the first one or two phonebook/ESN transfers etc
per year are complementary.  That way ordinary users wouldn't
have a problem.

VZW is being hit badly on the ARPU side.  I think they still
haven't worked out that when you sell the most expensive
product, many people get very wary of being further nickel
and dimed.

Ultimately the guide they should use is to charge for what
you are trying to discourage, and subsidise what you want
more of.  I would think you want people upgrading phones
rather than putting barriers in the way.  I would think you
want existing customers to experience excellent customer
service.  (Wait till people get annoyed at just how bad
many of the phonebook transfer programs are as most won't
transfer speed dials, voice dials, picture ids etc).

Roger