I think it also acts as a reminder what when you can’t rely on the corporately provided mobile networks, the (privatised) government-built infrastructure is still reliable.

Allegedly they were always free.

After 2$ coin in, feed a plastic straw above the coin return, knock the coin to return, credit still registered.

I did not know that. That's cool.

And then someone goes and gamifies them https://payphonetag.com/