iMessage / Text

I don’t have data.

When I’m not connected to wifi I don’t receive iMessages that are sent to me until I connect to wifi. This is frustrating.

If I turn off iMessage I don’t receive messages from people who are sending iMessages unless I turn iMessage back on. This is frustrating because I can’t control / tell everyone else to turn off iMessage.

Am I missing something? I just want messages to come through (like text) all the time. I don’t get why I’m stuck between iMessage and wifi and in both scenarios I can’t receive iMessages.

Is there a way to get my phone to operate as if iMessage wasn’t a thing?

Is there a way to make it so when people send me messages I receive them as text instead of iMessages?

(Note: when connected to wifi I can receive messages both text and iMessage no problem. I can send messages no problem when connected to wifi. When not connected to wifi sending messages usually works if I select the send as text message option. )

I hope my concern makes sense. Thanks!