Exactly, that was my point, while AA's or AAA's might be a better source for phones, the general consumer public doesn't want a phone that an AA or AAA will fit into.
I don't like lithium ION either, espicaly the cheap consumer grade cells which don't last more than a couple years. I'm just now warming up to NiMH after suffering through self discahrge a few years ago. I recently bought a new set of NiMH's and am testing them out now as I have standardized on AA and AAA also (but I ended up with a couple camping items running D's but they are not critical in any way so if I run out its no biggie).
I wish someone would make a phone in a more square form factor so AA's would fit.