touch screen phones have been around for ages in PDA guise without any major issues.
why not go for a Microsoft based Smartphone?
loads more bells & whistles han a regular phone & different from what most of your buddys will have
everyone who's seen my Touch has loved it, even iphone users!
have a good nose around the reviews etc in this site -
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/
there might be something there that takes your fancy
oh, nearly forgot!
these phones are aavilable on all the major networks they just don't often advertise them, you have to ask for them