The intel 520s are very good. Intel doesn't inflate specs - they produce specs that match typical, real time performance. In my experience, Intel SSDs are every bit as capable for daily use as other drives.
Get an iPhone? All kidding aside, figure out why the text keeps failing. I'd start parsing logs or ask my carrier if I had texts failing to send more than very rarely.
Because there are far more elegant ways to do it. I can search just as fast on iOS as you can with a button, but a button has zero capability to be upgraded or enhanced. They made the right move.