No, it wasn't better before. I was a late-comer to the cell phone world. I put it off until I got my motorcycle and my wife was pregnant with our first. The ability for her to call me anywhere, anytime was invaluable. I'm a practical user as well, except for when I call my family around the US (for free!) once a month.
The whole perception of "the good ol' days", in my opinion, is a false perception. All of these phones come with an off button
It's also my alarm clock, my pocket watch, my camera in a pinch, and my timer, so it's one of the most helpful gadgets I carry around.