Reminds me of old cell-phone service options. Free hours, rollover and prepay/pay-as-you-go/contractless etc.
Not sure how pricing/value actually compares, but it does seem like if you want a phone now for emergencies you're going to get fleeced (also required data package). Unless maybe you buy a flip-phone or something. A fiber provider in my area even still charges $40 for a land-line (no idea if it's VoIP).