I Need A New Cell Phone

Seeing Biznass' earlier blog on shopping for cell phones got me to thinking.  I recently got text messaging for my wife and myself and I am liking it.  The problem is I suck at it.  I would love one of those phones with the keyboard on it.  I am in the middle of a contract and don't want to start a new one.  Cell phone companies charge you a fortune if you don't start a new contract.  I am with Verizon and I looked at a LG Envy.  If I signed up for a two year contract, they would sell me the phone for $79.  With out the two year contract, the phone is over $300.  That is ridiculous.  I can get the phone on ebay for about $175.  I worry about ordering one off of ebay.  Not sure what a ens is and some say they have a clear ens and others don't mention it.  Not sure what to do.  I guess I can keep pecking things out on my old phone but it is not near as quick.  Any ideas for a wanna be texter?