One might say a bushman relies too heavily on his machete but it doesn't change the fact that it's an invaluable tool.
I have mixed feelings about this specifically because you laid out a lot of genuinely good, thoughtful reasons for not wanting a cell phone, but on the other hand, hold outs tend to get in the way of the rest of us trying to move forward.
Case in point. My S/O still gets child support in the form of a mailed check just as my step daughter gets birthday/holiday money. Her ex refuses to use online banking options like Zelle, Paypal, Cash, etc. They have to look for it to arrive. They have to endorse it. They have to go by the bank or scan it for mobile deposit, which is it's own process. A few days ago she had to remind him Morgan doesn't have a bank account so the check he sent her needs to be resent in her name so she can cash it for her and on and on and on. It's like having to wait in line to pay for gas while the person in front of you counts out a gallon size freezer bag of pennies, only to need to run out to the car for the last three. It's a convenience store, man. In and out. Not a bank or exchange. Get your shit together.
I empathize with everything you said and I'm not throwing shade, but understand that these days, eschewing technology essentially means someone has to carry you to some extent, just because you refuse to keep up, but are still loved too much to be left behind. But dead weight eventually has to be dropped or ends up being a detriment to those carrying it.
Very good counterpoint! It's so new (just a month) and I feel like I have taken measures to not be "dead weight", but time will tell haha!