I would slash my wrists in a moment if I had to use a phone from the free software side of things. I'm saying that as a Linux admin, RHCA with over 20 years of experience with Linux and a decade of commercial Unix before that. They can't even get a useable desktop OS out without fucking it up on a galactic scale.
You see, this is my core point. I have only been using Linux in a serious capacity for 1-2 years, and that's a /high/ end estimation. I started using it as a spur of the moment thing for desktop usage, and I think that it has truly redefined how I perform my computing. I believe Linux is an incredibly usable desktop OS if you like it, and want to put the time into making it usable, which I do. There's no such thing as one perfect environment, and there /shouldn't/ be. What's so great about computers is that they are infinitely programmable, and there's always a way to have another option, even if it's not easy.
I think the key fallacy is the, "try it my way, you'll like it my way" approach of suggesting tech. If there is a true benefit that you are suggesting to someone, you probably shouldn't have to tell them that they have to do it your way. People aren't you, they don't do things your way, and probably never will. Halcyon's not a complete beginner here, and throwing up everything he's ever known because /you/ say he should just isn't great.
My experience with this is how much I loved Arch Linux. It was a revelation of biblical proportions, and I wanted to share that with as many people as possible (in a genuinely religious way). Arch Linux only too, no filthy Ucuntu or Debian annoying. Arch Linux is a barebones distro, and requires a lot of under the hood knowing what you're doing to create an environment you can prosper from, and I'm a sort of person who very much enjoys that, and thought that just because it was easy, or even just fun and beneficial for me that if people just /tried/ to get into it, they'd find the same thing.
Well, I found that every single person I tried to convert just didn't have that sort of stamina. I struggled to try to teach people enough to get them hooked, since they really weren't interested and were just humoring me. I still suggest Arch Linux to people who want to get into Linux, because it worked with me, and it's what I know, but I now say don't expect a miracle, and that you have to learn and put time and effort into get out what you put in. It shouldn't annoy me that people are trying to Linux wrong, or computer wrong, since it's not me, and while I'm always here to help people with their problems in the way I know how, but not as a means to convert.
Thanks Ampera, I would rather not jailbreak my friend's phone. Maybe one day I'll experiment with one.
Didn't know if he gave it to you full and proper or as a loaner. Of course don't jailbreak his device, get a pennies cheap iPhone 3G or something to mess around with if you want to. Even if it's 30 bucks for a few hours of fun, it's still cheaper than laser tag.
P.S. Yes I understand the sort of hypocrisy I'm displaying by trying to explain to you how to not fanboy, because I discovered to not fanboy is the right way to do things, and that you need to do things my way. At the end of the day, conduct yourself how you wish, I still love engaging on the occasional throwdown defending my home team solution, it's nothing but human nature.