Sprint PCS is not any better. I live on top of a slight rise 1/3 mile off of US 64 just east of Raleigh - main artery for most of eastern NC traffic - and cannot use my phone unless I sit out in the front yard. Had AT&T for a while but could go 1 mile to east or south of my house and hit dead air - no signal whatsoever, not even roam.
I like the idea of Nextel but they don't go into Virginia yet and drop out once you get out of major metropolitan areas.
Technology - ya' gotta' love it, although nowadays it is more of a bipolar relationship (love-hate-reconciliation-litigation-get on Jerry Springer Show-kind of thang).