That's not actually your running applications, but just the ones you've had opened recently. Android 4.0 has a really clever new system that actually freezes applications real time, so you don't need a task manager/killer, all of your tasks will be frozen and inactive until you want to use them again.
Whaaaat? That's badass. Android4life.
Oh, you want to buy a phone outright. You were wording it as if you wanted a no-contract cellphone.
Well that's exactly what he does want. He's under contract, andAtT requires a ridiculous price for you to end a contract with them early. And he's probably not due for an upgrade yet, so he wants a no contract android phone he can use with them and not break his contract/open a new one.