Same - I never need to give my personal number to anyone. It's not even listed, so I avoid 99.9% of scam/phishing calls (unlike my work phone). Only family and friends use this number[1].
I have another number which I only use for the local pay-with-phone system. Second sim in a cheap dual-sim phone. And then there's a phone number which I only use for handing over to those services requiring a phone number ([1]the only exception to this whole thing is that my local bank actually has my personal number, but that's a voluntary exception).
There's no rule that "phone number" should equal "my personal phone number".
Except for the phone number thing though, I completely sympathize with the author.
I use charge card plans for those phones - I pay only for the usage. I push what amounts to about ten euros into the plan and that lasts a long time. To avoid non-activity I send a text message a couple of times a year.
I have another number which I only use for the local pay-with-phone system. Second sim in a cheap dual-sim phone. And then there's a phone number which I only use for handing over to those services requiring a phone number ([1]the only exception to this whole thing is that my local bank actually has my personal number, but that's a voluntary exception).
There's no rule that "phone number" should equal "my personal phone number".
Except for the phone number thing though, I completely sympathize with the author.