Ok, maybe we should all spend more money for the greater good.
Well, I'm selfish. I just want the cheapest least-hassle phone service I can get. So I have:
Verizon Unlimited Data plan - costs about as much as DSL does, plus I can easily suspend when I'm away (lot of travel, so I'd have to either keep paying for DSL, or pay lots of reconnect fees). Plus I can use it on the go.
Google Voice for myself, my wife, and my mom.
Tracfone service for all three as well.
We've had our Google Voice numbers for almost five years now (had service since GrandCentral days, but I changed my number about five years ago). Only one time was any part of it "shut down". End of October 2013 it was announced that in May 2014 Google would stop allowing third parties to access their service. You could still use the service as originally designed (have calls/texts forwarded to a regular number, use their website to make/receive calls and texts). So I did have to change some things (we were relying on that third party support), but even with a new baby I didn't feel rushed. Yes, Google drops support for things all the time, but there has always been a LOT of advance notice. They have a decent track record as far as that goes.
With Google Voice, it doesn't matter what the underlying service is. As long as I have data, or a number for calls to be forwarded to, it will work. I've changed from Tracfone to Net10 to AT&T to T-Mobile to PagePlus...and I'm not counting the dozen or so times I've activated new Tracfone service due to some promotion. In fact I'm about to do it again, found a phone with 800 minutes that's good for a year for under $40 (once I activate, pay for a $1 BYOP sim, and transfer to an Android phone I'll end up with 800 minutes 800 texts and 800MB data for under $40). That's all we need for calls and texts (we'll use hardly any). One of us may need more data, $15 for an extra 750MB might do us for the year, $30 for 2GB should be plenty. That's $40-$70 for a year of service, or $3.33-$5.83 per month. Even if you don't game the system like that, you can keep it under $7/mo if you don't need much data.
Yes, Tracfone customer service leaves much to be desired. The only times I've had issues was when I was trying to transfer airtime from one phone to another (and even then, there's a US number you can call that seems much more competent, it's a well-known secret). It's been mentioned that porting numbers in/out of Tracfone related services can be problematic. Well, I don't ever use the underlying mobile number (just use Google Voice), so I'm never porting a number in or out. I've never had to call for any reason other than activating or transferring airtime.
No, it's not for everyone. If you want to pay more for better customer service, go ahead. If you want to pay more to support the underdogs (so AT&T can buy them out), feel free. If you're willing to risk a bad customer support experience in order to save some cash, that's fine too.
I'll say this. I'm glad I wasn't (solely) with PTel. I'm currently in Australia, and I'd have to deal with getting three different people's numbers switched over. And it'd all be done remotely, with my mom, over the phone. Yes, I'd do as much online as I could, but the sims would go to her address, she'd need to get the numbers to me, I'd have to tell how how to put it in her phone and possibly setup the APN, etc. Could take a mere 15 minutes, could take hours. As it is, our numbers are safe with Google Voice, and my mom's Tracfone service is working fine.