My cheap HTC has a bezel that comes forward at the front, so even if you drop it front-first it's plastic rather than glass that makes contact with the floor. I've dropped it at least five times and it works. So no, a phone that breaks when you drop it really would be a downgrade.
I have a Hero and it's like that. Part of the reason why it's so robust is that when it drops, it splits into 3 parts: the phone, the battery and the battery cover.
