> The point is that phones have added little value.

... to you.

My phone doesn't always have to be solving a problem or completing a task. The other day I was waiting for something and happened to look up the weather. I ended up going down a rabbit hole and re-discovering https://earth.nullschool.net - it was fascinating! It enriched my life, to no particular end. That sort of stuff happens all the time and immensely valuable to me.

There were iPods before there were smartphones, and that completely revolutionised my listening habits. I don't stream music or listen to podcasts so that need was already a solved problem for me.

Except. Now I only carry one device. vOv