[adpoe]

Last time I traveled internationally (~10 years ago), I had to buy a separate international cell phone.

Not for privacy reasons -- but instead because my US-based phone wouldn't work in some of the other countries I'd be in. (At the protocol level, I suppose.)

Assuming it's not prohibitively expensive, why not do the same thing, now?

I agree that this is a troubling policy. But it seems simple to get around, if you were interested in doing so. It's also possible that this suggestion is naive, and feel free to let me know why, if so. =)