text: why do i have to turn off all electronic devices when the plane is taking off? or when it's taxing or landing?  i don't understand how a majority of these devices would interfere at all. one way radios, gps recievers, laptops w/o wireless, psps, etc, etc don't send out any signals, so why do we have to turn them off?   even cell phones that send and recieve, don't they operate at different frequencies from aircraft communications? and isn't the plane already being bombarded with tons of cell phone (broadcast) siganls from outside the plane?  what's going to happen if i secretly turn on my cell-phone, and take a call while the fight attendent isn't looking? it gives the flight crew a sense of power to be able to tell you what to do.  the customer is always right... as long as he follows these simple rules...etc.  i don't think cell phones actually cause any problems with plane instruments, but i'm glad they're not allowed.  how annoying would it be to fly from seattle to nyc on a flight full of people using "cell phone voice."  no, thank you.