since COVID, i've had 3 new numbers. i'm sure that's an edge case, but it happens. my second number came when I brought my own device to a pre-pay plan on a new carrier that said my number was not able to be ported. then, when i upgraded phones, the pre-pay number was not eligible for carrying over to the new device.

I know I'm not the first person to be unable to port a number, so calling a phone number something that never changes is a bit skewed