Verizon is only allowing normal customers to post to the off topic lounge.  They control what is posted where, which makes alot of the testimonies published under each phone in the reviews suspect, as I own the phone and have service and can not post in it's group.

Anything new ends up here.

As for the original post - I had 4 phones (3 "normal" phones and one smart phone) and dropped one of the "normal" phones that was no longer being used off my contract   They told me I could add it back at any time.  You might consider a "normal" phone like the casio g'zone - it is reasonably rugged and packs many features, but is not a $65/mo smartphone.  Here in california on a family plan it can be added for $10 + tax or $11.24/mo.   All of my phones are grouped in a family share plan and share a common pool of minutes.