I think we can safely say, without any trace of hyperbole, that ringback tones are the worst thing in the history of mankind.
My sister has been tormenting me with “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” while another person I called made me sit through “Summer Love” for fifteen seconds before I got his voice mail. Yes, suicide was contemplated, however briefly. Death to ringback tones!
Now, if the cell phone companies were interested it would be pretty trivial to disable them.
And the worse idea is the related cell phones on airplanes. They are starting to allow it in Europe.