I think a lot of it is
“LOOK HOW IMPORTANT I AM! I’M TALKING ON A CELL PHONE!”
Remember the RED LED watches ?
I remember going to the movies and hearing people’s LED watch Alarms going off. Seems they SET IT to go off during the movie. Some of them would even hold their hand up to make sure others could SEE the RED LED’s.
Then there were people I would notice who left their nice warm home (with a landline phone) and drive around in their car JUST TO USE THEIR CELL PHONE.
LOOK AT ME. I’m SO COOL. I HAVE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY. BOW BEFORE ME!