Nothing lasts forever, especially cell phones.

I understand mechanical items are destined to fail. It is their nature as machines.

Much like an HVAC unit in a Georgia summer, our devices have become everyday use items which endure a tremendous amount of utilization and even physical abuse.

When I switched from a basic to data plan in 2011 to get my first smartphone, I had to let go of my trusty side kick from 2008, which could have easily made it another 3 years.

The current life expectancy of a cell phone is less than 2.5 years.

I’m now fully convinced, more so than I already suspected, these items are specifically designed and engineered only to survive until the term of the current payment plan on them expires.

It’s actually a popular business model taught in B-school: Planned Obsolescence.

This month I made the last of 24 payments of $24.96 ($599.00) on my HTC ONE M9, which coincidentally replaced my HTC ONE M7 in 2016, which I paid an equally ridiculous amount for just 4 years ago, after my HTC Thunderbolt had the cell phone version of a human stroke in 2014.

Much like a mortician finds themselves inured to death and decay, I was not surprised when the trade in offered on my phone was only $32. This infant aged technology was barely worth my last payment on it; I have suits I paid half as much for which I could sell for four times as much. Here’s hoping my latest foray into an entirely new world of tech, the iPhone SE outlives the 24 payments of $18.71 ($449.00).

By contrast, my 2001 Toyota Tundra has retained nearly 25% of its vlaue after 17 years and 155K miles.

Too bad it can’t make phone calls.

— The Impostor