No money down is not the same thing as free. That's over $2,000 worth of phones that you have there.
I know that but with the NEXT plan there was no upfront cost and 24 payments before an upgrade is possible.
So
Edge was $31 per month and $0 upfront phone charge vs. $25/mo + $399
iPhone 6 was $25 per month and $0 upfront phone charge vs. $25/mo + $299
iPhone 5s was $20 per month and $0 upfront phone charge vs. $25/mo + $99
iPhone 5c was $13 per month and $0 upfront phone charge vs. $25/mo + $1
So instead of paying $100/mo and $789 upfront for the phones, we are paying $89 per month and $0 down.
Two catches. One, we had to pay tax $164 tax on the purchase of the phones which was our walk out of the store cost for the 4 smartphones. Two, to actually own the phones we need to pay for or keep the phones an 6 extra months past the 24 NEXT plan ($534 total).
Still comes out a lot cheaper and I was glad to not walk out of the ATT store not spending ~$850 up front. I am fortunate that my wife wanted the smaller cheaper 5s and my 12 year old is ecstatic with the even cheaper option of a 5c. Plus I get the $600 line change credit in 45 days!
My son with the iPhone 6 likes Androids better but he says everyone at college has iPhones and they all rely heavily on iMessage to communicate. He already jailbroke his iphone 6 which makes it a lot closer to an android as far as widgets and control. My wife is a Luddite and likes the simpleness of the iPhone. My 12 year old daughter likes the status symbol of an iPhone. I like the latest and greatest gadgets.