I love my 3i so far. The sound is great and the finish is as good as my old Earset 3 but I know what you mean about the rubber being more shiny and cheaper looking than the original A8s. The aluminium parts seems as good as they ever were.
Still, I'm very happy with them.
As I indicated in another thread I've been looking at the BS5 Encore. I just don't really buy or use CDs any more. But I need tighter integration with iTunes.
I don't have a landline anymore. I couldn't see the point so my Beocom 6000 sits on the shelf in the hall unused but sculptural. I haven't had the heart to unplug it and put it in a box.
The phone number as a concept is continually being eroded. The idea of ringing a building in the hope that the person you want to speak to is inside is, when you stop to think about it, rather bizarre.
I do wish mobile networks would hurry up and roll out higher call quality, though. When I call my iPhone-owning friends on Viber the call quality is outstanding - better than any landline I've ever used. Have you tried Viber moxxey?