Even those who lose their phone and don't realize it for a few hours or
a day or so?

Yes, I know. Some people just tempt fate.

Of course they have something to do with each other.

A phone left unprotected to enable ICE means that the difference between
losing or having a phone stolen is the cost of the phone or the cost of
the phone plus the cost of any calls made between the time that you
discover the loss and the time you can cancel the service. That can
amount to quite a hefty difference. One directly impinges on the other.

  Anyone whose phone is stolen and

I cannot imagine ANYONE who would not contact their carrier; once they
became aware of the loss. It might be a day or two before they
discovered that the phone was missing, longer if they are traveling or
on vacation etc.

  I thought I'd

That's exactly what I was saying. There is little common sense to
recommend this ICE concept.

Think about it.

If I am lying, injured, be it from a bomb or a car wreck, and I saw a
paramedic trying to work out how to use my phone, I would get pretty
damn pissed off. The paramedic's primary function is to stabilise and
transport ill or injured people, not to worry about informing their next
of kin, or discovering who they are or where they live. Time enough for
that once you have reached a care facility and have been examined and
diagnosed by a doctor.

I do not want my next of kin informed before it is known just exactly
what they need to be informed about. It will not make one bit of
difference to me whether my next of kin is informed immediately or an
hour or so later, but it might make a great deal of difference to my
next of kin. I would rather they knew exactly what my condition is,
after proper and thorough diagnostic testing, not be told in a hurried
and very limited form by a person at the scene, who regardless of
training and experience, is neither a doctor, nor has a range of
diagnostic equipment on hand. I do not want my next of kin alarmed
unnecessarily. If it is truly serious, they will find out eventually, if
not, then they won't have been put through unnecessary stress.

I have been severely injured several times in my life, I am recovering
from a near fatal traffic accident and subsequent surgery at the moment.
I see no value or benefit to me or mine with ICE.

I think that it is an ill-considered, impractical, knee jerk reaction to
the difficulty in identifying bodies in recent mass trauma events. It is
not an answer. The phones have always been there, it only takes a Police
call to the carrier to identify the owner. In fact pressing number one
on most people speed dials would get you to someone who was close to
them. ICE adds nothing of value and may slow down the administering of
initial care if paramedics waste time with phones. Tags on wrist watches
would be simpler and more practical. More people wear watches than have
phones and watches are strapped on, less likely to part company with the
 body.

Regards

David