you are confusing yourself...

first off you need to pick a particular device--all devices are not created equal.

for example, since you are on verizon, they have a pocket pc phone called a MOGUL. this phone has a full qwerty keyboard and runs microsoft windows mobile 6.x. it has powerpoint, outlook mobile, and a few other microsoft programs on it.

it has pocket internet explorer so you can get online just as you would on your computer at home.

with this unit, you SHOULD get a data package so you can get online... now you DONT have to get a data plan but then why use the MOGUL in the first place if you are not going to use it to get online.. thats one if its strengths.

im not sure what you have been reading but the price all comes down to what you want and what the carrier will give you in terms of cost. of course a pocket pc phone such as the MOGUL will cost you more than a regular old fliip phone because they do different things. no one is saying the pocket pc phone will be cheaper than a conventional flip phone... BUT IT COULD BE depending on what kind of a deal/package you get from your carrier. thats why i am suggesting you go into a verizon store and look at a pocket pc phone and compare the costs of using a pocket pc vs. using a regular phone.

clearly you dont have a need for such a device since you think it will cost you a lot of money so i am unclear as to why you really care. i have been using pocket pc and PALM phones since the mid 90s and i cant live without them. i need the power of a computer on my phone and the pocket pc phones are great--wifi access, i can even use my phone as a wireless access point (just like the router in your home) so other devices can use my phone as a gateway to the internet--no conventional flip phone can do those things... so you get way more for your money down the road witha pocket pc phone if you need such services on the go...

if you are still confused, post back or drop a line via email.. but i suggest you stop in at verizon and have a peek at the workd of POCKET PC...