No you're missing the point. Cell providers do not sell it. The device works just fine on T-Mobile's 3G network. It makes phones calls and browses the internet and everything else you would expect from a cell phone.

The reason people say the phone features are lacking is not because it doesn't get service... its because little things like:
Unable to change ring tone per contact
Call log doesn't show the number a contact called from
You can't buy it for $150 and sign a 2-year contract...

That kind of stuff...