i've never had that problem. i value my family's money, and i don't care how you guys spend yours (or most likely your parents'). have fun being played like a fiddle by marketing.
Have fun being played as a fiddle? You think some people have a choice, some carriers like verizon are very greedy and evil when it comes to updating phones and support.
Look at what their doing, they really hate Windows phones, Lumia Icon - Discontinued after a year, Lumia 730 - Delayed for nearly two years and probably going to be killed off soon, why? Because apparently they just want to sell what is really popular, and if you look on the android side, there are still people on android 4.4 meanwhile everyone is on 5+, why? Because they get more money from selling brand new android phones instead of updating the old ones.
I find T-mobile to be easier with this type of stuff because they actually update their phones, a little late but never as late as verizon or...sprint.
You are right on some things though...