YES
-just one more thing to get caught with and have to explain
-almost every phone has email, email is more anonymous, almost just as fast
-don't have to keep buying cheap phones
-a person's email can easily be verified by other providers whom he has seen and used the same
email.
NO
-?
I ditched my hobby phone ages ago.
There are lots of ways to get a second number on a phone- google, voxox, burner, and hushed. I'd say use one of these, not just email so the inevitable quick call isn't found
I thought all your communications would go through Google.
Thus leaving Google in possession of your communications.
If it's to prevent interception by law enforcement- ha! This ain't 1992, wiretaps follow the person. Google would at least take one extra subpoena, but yeah... Watching your mouth not to actually make a dumb agreement is your best/only protection there.
Since he mentioned the physical phone being something requiring explanation, I assumed we were talking about keeping it a secret from a partner, friends, etc.
How's google voice any different? At least the thing is secure and messages aren't sent over clear text.
If you wanna take the paranoid route use hush mail, but they are known to spill the beans to the government as well.
My email is on my own dedicated server space, etc. But I guarantee he was talking about a free account when he was proposing email only as an alternative. Nobody but wives are looking at hobbyists, and to clarify, I absolutely wasn't proposing those as options for providers.
It's got easy to track IP addresses which can be traced to MAC addresses, which trace to an individual device.
But, it is just fine to live in pseudo privacy.
Every damn mobile phone has a IMEI CODE, every Google and whatever VoIP phone has an IP address so, all can be tracked. No one us smarter than the deep state but, it is always fun to believe in the myth deep state allows you believe and crow about freedom.
Before, some of you ape shit, do some research, may be you will figure out, may be you won't. All of us get away because the deep state don't care or have the time or want to.
Less you you stand out, the better of you are.
Still works fine 
Gives you a workout.. lol
I'm still sticking with this baby:
my very first "car phone" (The term cell phone hadn't been invented.) had a rotary dial, not even a keypad.
The transmitter for it was the size of a 3 suiter suitcase and located in the trunk.
This was around 1975.
Toll charges were $1.50 for call (Starting from when you lifted the receiver.), and about $2/minute, plus any long distance toll charges.
You could end up paying more to call a provider than what you paid her.
No wonder they called them call-girls back then.
I had no idea mobile phones were even invented in the seventies!
Pretty cool that you had one!!
certainly not for me. There are pros & cons with either plan. A plus ofthe separate hobby phone is it can be trashed / destroyed and there is no linkage. Anything done from your smart phone or computer leaves tracks IF someone wants to try hard enough.
Yes, the small hobby phone does have to be hidden & kept secure... a negative but is doable.
There is no right or wrong here... just choices that need to be carefully made to fit YOUR circumstances.
If there's any doubt... read the Legal Board
http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewall.asp?MessageID=21885&boardID=25&page=1#21885
Staker/blackmailer... a cheap hobby phone PRICELESS!
All electronic communications are traceable. Hobby phone is easier to hide or destroy when shit hits the fan. Of course use only cash for hobby phone activity. So why get rid of a good thing.
Find a place to hide the phone. Many years ago, I forgot the phone in my car and the SO found. I said I did not know whom it belonged to may be someone from work forgot. It had no data on it as I make it a point to erase everything on the phone after the session is over.
Been very safe after that and have had no issues.