They still are, As a former cell network technician I can tell you MetroPCS has a very good network....but a crappy footprint. If your in their good spots your fine but its way too easy to leave them. Same issue with TMO, their data blows away VZ and Sprint...IF your in a good area for them but again easy to leave it. I traded reluctantly for VZ because I would up in bad spots too often. If TMO improved their 4G coverage outside of major areas I'd go back in a minute.
Quite honestly, the truck stop wifi services are awful! If you want reliable internet access in your truck, it will cost you more than $20/month. I tether my iPhone 5s to my MacBook Pro and use data on my Verizon account. My current family plan is 8gb per month with 4 phones on it. Runs me about $280.
There is no free lunch. Anyone who thinks that T mobile or some other inexpensive service will get you good service is dreaming. IF ( big if) you truck locally and are in an area that has coverage for T mobile or some other similar service that is fine. But if you do long haul then those services are useless.
Ouch I use like 8 gigs on a slow week by myself. 3 days left this billing cycle I'm at 30.5 gigs . I didn't even have my phone for like a week.
I was quite happy with sprint. only places I was without service was 80 after reno to grand island. salt and cheyenne were the lone exceptions
Easy a lot of it is downloads. If I cut out all my downloads, I should be at a reasonable level. But since I don't have to.... Besides we pay enough to Verizon, so I'm making sure I use as much as possible. http://i60.tinypic.com/25jy1r9.jpg