Even if the functional difference is minimal, I'd still argue that it is a net positive to present the deal in a straight forward way. There's also a lessened

Even if the functional difference is minimal, I'd still argue that it is a net positive to present the deal in a straight forward way. There's also a lessened urgency to upgrade phones under the T-Mobile model. There's still the Jump program, for those who do want to keep on a trade-in cycle, but if you're happy with you're phone you get rewarded with a lower bill at the end for sticking with it until you aren't.