Yep, I still have and use one. It was my parents'. I got it when i moved out. The thing must be at least 20 years old!

I MUCH prefer being able to hear the messages. Every now and then i need to screen my calls. (I think screening is rude and don't do it often.)

Plus I like being able to call home to the pets

We're thinking of getting voice mail, but ONLY if we can have it set to answer after at least two more rings than our answering machine. That way we can still get calls if our line is busy, or switch off the answering machine when we go out of town. We want our answering machine as our first line of defense.