While you have good points, we have had a “landline” phone since 2020 and I would rate it a huge success and worth the $10/month we pay for the line. 1. The kids have memorized both my cell phone number and their dad’s number (great if they have an emergency away from home, they know how to reach us or tell someone else how to) 2. The kids call their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and our neighborhood friends landline and/or their parents cell phones regularly. They also get calls from these people and it is helping deepen these relationships. It comes in super handy when we need to talk to one of our kids at the neighbors but we don’t want to bother the adult. Everyone can hear the phone ringing and the kids run to answer. 3. They are learning phone etiquette which is also translating into face to face etiquette. 4. I have been able to leave the house for short periods of time and my kids can reach me without having to give them a screen. 5. If there was an emergency they can call 911 without having to unlock a grown ups phone or bypass the lock. Will we have it forever? No. Will we eventually give them cellphones? Yes. But we’re almost 6 years in and I predict it will serve 3 kids well for another 2-3 years, while we build skills to get them ready for actual cell phones/smart phones.