I know some buy them to collect, but there must be some people who actually use these cards. With every man, woman, and child carrying a mobile phone, who needs a calling card? Most of the public pay phones have either been vandalized or been removed because they didn't collect enough income.

I admit that I used to use phone cards, but that was 10-15 years ago when calling long distance really cost something. Now, most calls cost the same wherever you call in the USA. Are the current users mainly calling foreign numbers?

Could it be that the phone card with attractive graphics today's version of the "L.E. chip", which had no real gambling purpose, but continued to be issued because collectors would buy them?

No offense intended to those collectors, Lyle. Maybe I'm missing something. Can you buy a card with only a buck or two of call time on it?