What you are probably missing is that the subsidy is not a lump sup at the time of purchase. e.g. If you get a phone subsidized by $720 from the MSRP the carrie

What you are probably missing is that the subsidy is not a lump sup at the time of purchase. e.g. If you get a phone subsidized by $720 from the MSRP the carrier provides a subsidy of $30 per month for the next 24 months or $20 per month for the next 36 months. If you leave early the credits stop and the remaining balance is due. The problem here is that even after the phone is paid off it remains locked to the operator.