One can also use voice recognition to send texts if talking is more appealing as an input method.
I previously thought of this as something old people do because they can't type on a phone, but I tried it, and it does provide a more rapid, conversational way of creating text.
If they still made an iPod like device that ONLY included data, I'd switch to it today. I can get my calls via any of the various online services.
As it stands, my phone is in do not disturb mode so that only calls in my address book get through.