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.

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.

Still works fine  

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.

How's google voice any different? At least the thing is secure and messages aren't sent over clear text.  

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.

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.

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.  

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.

I had no idea mobile phones were even invented in the seventies!
Pretty cool that you had one!!

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.  

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!