I don't take it for the phone - heck *none* of the places I backpack have reception. I take it because I have the app on it to read amazon kindle books - an Ipod touch (the same thing as my iphone without the phone) would do the same thing. When on the trail I leave it in "airplane" mode so it doesn't try to be a phone anyway. that way I can read lots without it running out of batteries.

So for me, it's lighter than a paperback book, holds lots of books, and also manages to be an alarm clock - that's good enough dual use for me to forget it was ever a phone until I'm back in "civilization" and take it out of airplane mode.