I remember when I had dialup, I couldn't see the big deal about broadband internet. After all, I was primarily downloading text and I could get online in less than 30 seconds.
It wasn't until I went to college and had a persistent pipe that I finally got how different always-on internet was compared to internet you had to bring up.
I suspect at least some of your lack of use for a smartphone is precisely because you don't have a data plan.
Humans are great at adapting to their surroundings. If you give them fancy gadgets, or a new way of doing something that is innovative, they'll forget how they did "x" before they had the new fancy "widget".
It wasn't until I went to college and had a persistent pipe that I finally got how different always-on internet was compared to internet you had to bring up.
I suspect at least some of your lack of use for a smartphone is precisely because you don't have a data plan.