I don’t know what it was like in 2010 because I started doing this in 2011.
Which is what I've been talking about the entire time, plans from that time period.
In case you don't see the edits, here they are.
Edit: Data plans were $25 for 2GB
Edit 2: Source 2 for the $25 data plan
Edit 3: Proof of the pricing of the At&t Family Messaging
Edit 4: At&t Family Plan Pricing, I'm sorry I was $10 off from $79.99 to $89.99
Old:
$89.99 for two phones w. 900min
$50 for TWO 2GB data plans
$30(Family Texting)
Total: $169.99 (Without taxes or surcharges, though tbh, I would have had the 450min plan)
Upgrade Charge = $200/upgrade
Upgrade fee = $30/upgrade
New Plan:
Mobile Share Plus 9GB Multi line Base plan - $80.00
Line 1 Access for Smartphone 4G LTE w/ VVM - $20.00
Line 1 SAMSUNG - Installment 2 of 30 - $33.34
Line 2 Access for Smartphone 4G LTE w/ VVM - $20.00
Line 2 SAMSUNG - Installment 2 of 30 - $31.67
Total: $185.01 (Without taxes or surcharges, I'm also excluding insurance)
Taxes paid upfront for Device 1 (999.99 * .08) = ~$79.99
Taxes paid upfront for Device 2 (949.99 * .08) = ~$75.99
Upgrade fee = $30 per upgrade
Lets show these calculations again with the misc fees then, Just 6 years, 2 upgrades for each line.
Old:
(169.99 * 72mo) + ($200 * 4 upgrades) + ($30 * 4 upgrade fees) = $13,159 (Before Taxes and surcharges)
New:
(185.01 * 72) + (79.99 * 2) + (74.99 * 2) + ($30 * 4) = $13,750.68 (Before Taxes and surcharges)
Conclusion:
Under the new way things are done, it is still $591.68 more expensive over a 6 year period now, than it was back then. I honestly don't see what there is left to argue, my argument this whole time is that it is more expensive now paying installments than it was previously doing the direct upgrades.