Love your post Nurikabe but I will say in defense of the phone that I feel like it does add some realism and value since, even IRL, we all use phones when communicating with friends, potential dates, etc. I think in Being A DIK the phone is done pretty well. In Race of Life the phone isn't quite as well implemented, but I like it - it can add quick communication bits that don't take long to relay event info, etc. or a quick note to someone, be it a friend or LI, and also give the player a choice to text a potential LI if desired to ask her out on a date or say 'i miss you', etc. stuff like that which can be tied in to triggers for certain events, or to add or remove points with an LI, etc.