If you plan to dump your hard line, unlimited localis the only way to go I think. It is also possible that you could get rate discounts based on your employer, or someone else's employer.
Heck, you could become one or Eric's long lost family members, or they could say they need one for their dog.
Nextel has direct conect but coverage in rural Nevada is not great.
Verizon probably has teh best coverage nationwide, including rural Nevada. (You want a tri-mode mode phone if you go Verizon in NV) UPS uses them.
Sprint is sort of on the same towers as Verizon, but digital only, so bad in rural NV you are hosed.
AT&T is in the rocess of converting everything to GSM, and just bought one of the next guys, so there network is a mess..
Cingular & T-Mobile, got no info for you. One of them just got sucked up by AT&T.
The bottom line is expectations. here is no such thing as a good Cel phone, a good Cel phone company, and good Cel phone Reps are like gold!