I don't understand the problem here, with having to have a data plan on a data device.....You do have a choice. Buy an unlocked TP2 and use it on AT&T or whoever. No one is holding a gun to your head.
Secondly, if you buy a subsidized phone the carrier is loosing money on the phone at the time of sale in order to make money off your data usage. They are in business to make money. We all are. It's a foolish sentiment to think businesses should not make a profit off us......And again, no one held a gun to your head and made you do it.
Next, as has been mentioned, carriers have spent millions building their networks out. They need substantial income to recoup those costs and begin making a profit on that investment. Therefore the successful carrier is going to tweak their plans to make the best use of their networks, leading to the best profit margin. It's not unfair for them to do that. As I have said, if you feel it is unfair, go do business with someone else.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, computing is going to cloud computing. In the next 2-5 years we are going to see huge shifts in that direction. It won't be long before you will not be able to buy a single phone anywhere on the planet without data. It will become a complete necessity.
As for the present, I don't know why people cry about it, and don't, or did't, do something about it, and sign on with someone who doesn't demand a data plan? If you don't like the way someone does business, why do business with them?
My apologies to those of you I upset with this post.
Dave