I got by for years without a landline phone.
When I bought my house and moved in, I had Cox give me phone/cable/internet all in one rather than just innernetz.
I didn't even have a landline phone handset for the first couple weeks.
I bought a house phone (pretty cool one, too!*) and plugged it in a couple days ago. When I plugged it in, it immediately started ringing. Literally. Immediately. The battery wasn't charged on the phone and I wasn't allowed to use it according to the instructions, so I disconnected the phone line that night rather than answering all the calls and let the phones charge in their cradles.
All day yesterday... telemarketers. At 15 minute intervals.
I put my phone number on the Federal do not call list, but that isn't going to work until the telemarketers update their databases.
It's so bad, I am tempted to just cancel my landline.
*Phone:
AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone With Caller ID And ITAD - 2 Handsets
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10992511The range is phenomenal on these handsets. I can walk all over my 1/3 acre lot, even out to my workshop and the phone is crystal clear. The phones also work as intercoms with each other. Each handset has a speakerphone function, is customizable for ring tone and volume, and the handset can operate the answering machine from anywhere in the house. Just a bunch of neat features. Almost as customizable as a cell phone. These things have come a long way since last I had a landline phone.