Yeah, going out of your way to make sure everyone knows that your phone is just a communications tool is a louder expression of your personality than a bright pink Hello Kitty case IMO.

That's totally why I have a phone with a simple black case. It's not because I went with the most pragmatic case in a color that matched the phone, but because I secretly want to be a special ops ninja, but because of dress code requirements, I'm only able to put my phone in a tuxedo.

I have a nexus 4 that is battered, the back glass got broken a couple of years after I got it and I just taped up the back with black electrical tape.

My gf says I'm the worst geek she's ever known since I use a nearly 7 year old PC, 4 year old laptop and a 4 year old trashed phone.

So if my phone is an expression of anything it's that I don't replace things that still work.