I agree with the OP, the n900 is a great device, and a great phone despite what some people say. A phone is a device that able to make calls over the phone network, and the n900 does this well, with good voice quality and great cell reception. The fact that it can't assign ringtones to individual callers is just a minor feature and does not take away from it being a phone.

I will likely use my n900 as a phone, internet device, and pda for years to come. I don't have to have the latest device, so long as the one I have does what I want.