I imagine you need a cellphone for your rental BUSINESS, you need internet at home, you probably use an iPad or a computer, you should probably have your taxes done by a professional, suddenly all these things come off your taxes.  

Your cell phone- business expense.  

Problem is, I could only get about 12 numbers, maybe because everyone is using a cell phone and doesn't even have a landline, or their landline number is unlisted.

As someone that has used the Realtor Association controlled MLS, I can say they would do a much better job.Most Realtors I know are only members of the Association because it is required for MLS access.If a company like Google does MLS and makes it open access to the public there is a logical next step.On vacant houses in particular, I can imagine a cell phone App used to control smart key boxes.  

Hope you can make it my cell phone is listed on my page on Bigger Pockets if you want to reach out anytime!

Your tenant can pay rent online by cell phone or computer. 

I do not have a cellphone (perhaps one benefit of not having one) and no longer respond if they call and leave a message on my answering machine as the form letter I include with the returned application explains why the rejection.You can, of course, reject simply because the application is not complete as required.Gail

Hotel staff yelling and bumping their cell phone music in the hall.  

I am kind of pondering whether to do VM or direct to cell phone via Google Voice (I'll take suggestions on another service like Cricket) and also whether to have a 1800 number or local number. 

I'm going to say what nobody seems to say.If you aren't part of the political "in crowd" there, chances are you're due diligence efforts are going to be wasted.If you are talking to receptionists,,,,,,,,,,The guys who get there deals done, have the real decision makers private cell phone numbers, and know each other on a close first name basis