Yup, I've got my contacts, email and calendar managed through my GMail account, which automatically syncs (both directions) with my iPhone over the internet. I also have it set to sync with my outlook client at home.
the main points of the iPhone over the other smart phones on the market is really how much simpler it is to use the damned thing. I've used Windows Mobile smartphones and even as a Enterprise-level Windows Server Admin, I found them highly flawed, when combined with the limitations placed on them by some of the carriers it was an infuriating mess.
However, I don't have any experience with BlackBerry's, other than playing with the Storm for a few minutes and realizing that the moving screen was a huge failure point and ultimately a gimmick, especially when paired up with Verizon. The commercials annoy me to no-end as well. The emphasis on the "click" noise is just assinine and speaks to how little respect they have for their customers.
Don't get me wrong, I detest using iTunes to manage the phone. Some of the areas that are locked down are annoying, luckily jailbreaking the phone doesn't effect the warranty and you can go back relatively easily by restoring it. A jailbroken iPhone takes the already good iPhone to a level on par with a Miata in terms of "the answer"
