it definitely isn't that easy. If you go to contacts and view history of any it only shows the call history, not texts. Especially if the threads have been deleted. I, among many others, want to retrieve old texts that are gone either because the storage text message limit has been exceeded, or they have been physically erased by me or other(s) who have went into those settings of my phone. I've called 611 and twice I've been told it cannot be done without a subpoena/ court order. I find it odd that things can be gone like they never happened so easily. Facebook lets you download a copy of everything, why can't phones?