Any smartphone would be a huge upgrade for us. We're currently using Samsung A737s. Well, my wife would be using hers still if it hadn't started acting up.
My wife's friend's husband works for Sprint, so we already have an employee referral code. For our purposes, though, using our AAA discount (10% off the plan plus they waive the activation fees) may server us better. We'll have to check the numbers.
No Flash in browser IS a bummer, but I don't think it's a dealbreaker. I did read the phone has ridiculously low onboard storage, but I'll have to check the specs and compare to other phones first.
The major advantage of the Replenish is that Sprint will drop the $10 smartphone penalty (that's per phone, not per plan) for the life of the phone until July 23. That's a difference of $20 a month. Plus there's a $125 refund after 61 days of service with each Replenish. When working out the numbers for the first year, the difference between a standard phone and the Replenish is insignificant, so we'd likely opt for the smartphone, even if it is on the low end.
My major concerns with the phone are:
Sturdiness. Phone insurance is $7 per phone per month, which means an extra $14 tacked on to our bill. My wife and I are typically VERY careful with our electronics, but things happen. Still, $168 a year for "what if" scenarios seems a bit steep.
Storage space. I'm the kind of guy who likes to push his hardware to the limit, so I'll likely go on a downloading spree as soon as I have the phone in hand. If I have to load apps and games from a microSD card and if loading from the microSD card takes long than loading from onboard storage (which I'm nearly certain it will), that's going to be a hassle--for me, not necessarily for my wife.
Compatibility. I know the phone won't play Angry Birds and that's not a big deal (though it would have been nice to have a portable copy of Angry Birds without buying a PSP; I have the Minis version). But the fact that Angry Birds won't play on the phone begs the question: Why not? And what else won't run on the phone? One of the main reasons we're dropping AT&T is because they take away user choices to push users toward unnecessary add-on services and products. If it's a choice between a crippled version of Android and no Android at all, I'll opt for no Android at all. It's that simple.
My one major concern with Spring is roaming.
I plan on calling the Sprint store tomorrow to ask how roaming works, if the phone has a prompt when roaming so you don't have to check the screen every time you make a call. (I plan on using a Bluetooth headset and voice commands for most calls.)
So that's the deal. I'm off to compare specs and read up on roaming now!
EDIT: One more thing: I DO want to tether with my phone if I get a smartphone.
EDIT#2: After reading reviews for about 10 minutes, I've come to the conclusion that every phone we can afford stinks on ice.
