That's true for some rotary dial phones. Alas, in my house, I had a more ornate model which did away with the plastic guard to prevent phone calls from being cu

That's true for some rotary dial phones. Alas, in my house, I had a more ornate model which did away with the plastic guard to prevent phone calls from being cut off[1]. Instead any fall, would depress the place where you hung the phone up, and instantly cut off the on going call. As I remember, even accidentally jostling it by leaning too far onto the desk, could potentially cut off a call. To me, that speaks a timeless truth---expensive and ornate tools are often less functional than their inexpensive peers. Today, expensive smartphones break instantly, but inexpensive ones which thick bezel on 'cheap' glass is resistant to accidental impact. [1]