> Personally, I'll be getting a rigid case that covers the back and sides.

Most cell-phone "rigid" cases are less rigid than the phone's own case, so they only afford protection against scratches and impacts, not bending.

If you run a bit into the edge of a counter top, with 70 lbs of force, I feel, your phone would not be your top concern. Plus I think, people are mostly worried about the phone deforming in your back pocket if you sit down on it. I am not a physics student, but even if you sit down on, say concrete, I think, your ass needs to have some serious muscle tone, such that a metallic object can get deformed without causing you discomfort.

OK, I feel like I have to ask this:

Who puts their phone into their back pocket? Why would you do that? Is it because it doesn't look as good to have it in your front pocket?

Because I sure as hell wouldn't put something that I spent >$200 on, that isn't designed to be sat on, in my back pocket.