Rogers Wireless without a contract

[audacity]

I know someone who purchased an unlocked phone. She intended to "ride out" the rest of her contract with Rogers (less than a year left on it). Instead she went and signed up for a 3 year contract because she was told that all of the reasonably priced plans that Rogers offers are only available on a contract.

When she told me this I thought it was bizarre. My understanding was that Rogers/Bell/Telus/etc justify the contract because they subsidized a phone. If you pay the full price for the phone (or bring your own unlocked phone) then you wouldn't be in a contract, just a month-to-month term.

Is it true that in order to get the published plans that you need to sign up for a contract, or was she mislead?