re: Switched to AT&T family plan, and they have me financing a phone without asking

You basically had two options. Pay $199 for the phone and your bill be $150 or pay $44 for the phone and your bill is $150. Yes you're financing the phone over two years but you come out cheaper because your bill is around $150 either way but the upfront pricing is cheaper the way you did it.

I spent some time in there last week doing the same thing.