LOL! I've done many a phone patch but, as you say, that equipment is pretty much obsolete now.
Let's just say I can pretty much speak with whom I want when I want. Most distant contact in my log is with a guy who lives on the island of Tasmania. Worked him long path but it's really about the same come to think of it.
I'll probably be pretty busy starting in the morning working traffic on 14.300 LSB (National Hurricane Net)
I used to joke with a couple Aussies I worked with from Tas about how well the doc did on hiding the scar to remove their second head off their shoulders. (Aussie joke about people from Tasmania)
