Technology-schmology.....just make it work, damnit!

So I'm one of the many that has been caught in the AT&T-Cingular merger and have been told that if I "switch" to Cingular I can benefit from rollover minutes and free mobile to mobile calling. Well, that's all fine and dandy, but the catch is that you have to buy a new "Cingular" phone. I've had my current phone, a Sony-Ericsson t68i for nearly 3 years now and despite the fact that it isn't as "hip" as it used to be, it's hella functional. It has built-in Bluetooth, infrared, and international band functionality. No, it doesn't play cutesy songs, but I can hook it up to my Palm Pilot and check my e-mail from a cruise ship in the middle of the Aegean sea, so put that in your pipe and smoke it. Anyway, the point of my rant is that none of the current offerings from Cingular can do what my little phone can for less than $400. (And those phones are all big and bulky anyway). Why is it so difficult for these companies to grasp the fact that not everyone wants to take pictures on their phone? I have a super camera for that. I just want to have a cell phone that works where I want it to, and with whatever gadgets I'd like to pair it up with. (Maybe that's why I like my Mac so much--so functional without all the bullshit). In any event, the closest thing Cingular has is the Motorola V551, which doesn't have infrared. (But, luckily, Gomadic makes a cable that I can use to pair it with my Palm). Anyway, I may hold off for a while but I am curious if any of you have the V551 and what you think of it. Drop me a line in the comments section with your advice!