Rubber cases vs Hard Cases

I've been through... I think five cases so far. I also used the iPhone "naked" for a while, but that ended when I dropped it and got a crack in the glass above the screen between the edge and the earphone hole. Sob story aside here's what I've used:

My first case was, if I remember correctly, a black rubber Griffin case that would catch sand and grit and scratched and scuffed the chrome bezel.

Second case was some cheap black silicone case I got off of eBay. It was thin and had an unattractive oval over the earphone. That's when I decided to try and carry the phone without a case and learned my lesson.

My next case was a black "rubberized" plastic case by Seido called the InnoCase. It lasted pretty long and looked very good, but the little snaps between the front and back pieces wore out and broke over time. You have to pry the two halves apart when you want to open the case so breaking those snaps is inevitable. Plus it popped completely open when I dropped the phone one time, though to its credit it did somehow prevent damage to the phone.

To replace the Seido I picked up the *Marware Sport Grip* which to be fair is a very reliable case, but it's ugly. It has a ribbed back which is really unnecessary, the rubber grips fine. The Marware logo on the back is cut deep into the rubber so it collects lint. The rubber over the shutter button is thick and doesn't always line up with the button. The rubber around the screen has a raised edge and comes up against the screen so close that it makes it difficult to touch anything near the bottom. And the hole over the mute switch is too small, so you have to dig your fingernail into the hole to hit the switch.

So on top of my dissatisfaction with the Sport Grip and my decision to pick up an armband I looked around and finally decided on the *Grantwood Tuneband* (it comes in I think six colors, mine is red). Weirdly it fits both the iPhone 2G and 3G. I've only had it for just over a week and this is the most satisfied I've been with a case. It's thin and unobtrusive but tough, when you hold it it feels like plastic but you can bend it easily to get your phone in and out. The case comes right up to the edge of the screen but leaves the home button uncovered so you don't have to lift your thumb to get to it. And the armband slips in an out through two slits on the back with ease. The only criticism I have is there are two holes above the screen that aren't necessary, but maybe they're for sensors on the 3G I'm not aware of.

That's my 2¢.

I just bought the otter box defender this week.
I love it also, however two people I have called since I put it on this Thursday say they are getting an echo of their own voice.
Mine did not have a peel away plastic film but rather a sort of touch screen film.
I left the plastic on over my invisble shield but can't believe that would be the issue. Any similar problem for you?

Monster Mobile: iPhone case with belt clip and charging battery
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9183082&st=monster+iphone&lp=3&typ e=product&cp=1&id=1218049007072

try the iPod Socks.....