OK, paragraphs. :-)
1) Some are, some are not difficult to set up. Some rely on the user 'letting' people in (white list) while others perform a quick test (very similar to what was proposed earlier in the thread although the owner of the device has no control over what the test itself is) to authenticate a user and then put that number on the internal white list.
Again, the way I use the phone, I need to be able to receive calls while I am on the phone so blocking caller waiting is not an option.
2) True but I do not actually get enough local calls to be a problem, at least not yet. And depending on the size of the data base, the black list could not only be huge but very up- to- date. I would be willing to try a 'database blacklist' blocking device.
3) Two parts: a) yes, but this entire thing is selfish. It is all about me and my comfort regarding telephone use. If I was being altruistic in the matter, I would politely answer every call, compliment every caller in some way, teach the world to sing in perfect harmony and then buy them a Coke. So as my wife would say 'The selfish train has sailed'. and b)Yes, it does introduce the possibility of playing 'telephone tag'. But as my attitude changes, I care less and less about that. Not to be confused with 'cranky' (which I am, very much so, but about bottom- feeders, not the people I want to talk to). My sons only have cell phones and are pretty cavalier about answering them so about 1 time in 3, I get to their voice mail, which they do not check if they know it is me- they just call back. Well, now that I am not answering the call and they get voice mail, they do not bother to leave a message either. Of course this results in fewer phone calls but such is life, as the French say.
Right at the moment, this method is providing some amount of immediate correction for the most serious problem, the bombardment of calls from people I do not want to speak with. It has its downsides but nothing awful, at least for me. Sure, that day I need the new kidney it could all prove a bit lethal, what with the 'phone tag' and all but I am willing to take that chance. :-)
The better solution does seem to be nomorobo with Vonage or Verizon but that will have to wait until a window of time opens.
Thanks for the help, I do appreciate it!
Brian
Not the least of which being their complexity and setup time (although some look to be pretty simply if you don't need/want all the features). I am not sure why you are "hung up" [pun intended] on the call waiting issue, though. If you are already on the phone, then it isn't that much of an interruption (if you have call waiting caller ID). Worst case, just ignore it; or even disable call waiting (*70) (yep, I don't have call waiting because it costs money I don't want to pay... it is rare I am on the phone all that long). In which case, the Tel-Lynx looks like it might be a great fit for you.
In my case, that wouldn't be the best, because those still allow crap through like the city "notices", political calls, etc (from what I understand). Personally, I would never want or accept ANY robo-recording call, marketing call, political call, sales call, "notice" call, etc. Plus, although it has honeypots, blacklists only work if people participate and mark calls as spam.
Kinda selfish, though.... if the other party does the same thing, then the two of you will never communicate. Plus it is still very inconvenient- you don't know from across the room if it is important or not until you stop, go over, and do whatever to get it playing back the message; and then delete it. That is, if you even remember. I get recorded voicemail from spammers, usually a partial of the recording, sometimes even a human (although that is rare). So voicemail/answering machines do not help much with many types of phone spam. In fact, I think it makes it even more annoying- most are calls from when I am not even home.
Your crankiness about spam calls is probably only matched by mine. And I don't even get that many spam calls. If I were at your level, I would have changed my number or ripped the phone(s) out of the wall if I couldn't find something to help.