-70 is terrific. -85 to -92 is like 1-2 bars. I have the same at my house. I can leave my phone on for about 30 hours IDLE and about 16 hours with moderate use. I don't think that -85 to -92 will drain your battery that hard. I have basically 1 to no bar 3G as well and I'm fine. What I noticed is that at a school where my connection was -105 I basically drained myself in 8 hours. So...I think 90-92 is fine, but once you start going 95+ it will start serious drainage.

 

The -90 dBm measures 1X not 3G. Your 3-4 bars is probably your 3G signal, which is good. And if you have 3-4 bars 3G, then you should have no problem with battery draining. There should be no reason that you have to turn off your Cellular radio.

And no, your phone will not ring if you turn off your cellular radio aka go to airplane mode. Calling features depend on 1X not 3G/Wifi. I think Google Voice will work though

 

Well you can try that out for yourself

If it doesn't work good, then just cancel your account and go back to whatever provider you had before.

I mean you could always just use Wifi at home if your 3G is weak like mine. Basically everywhere else I have great connection, city, school, and basically everywhere I chill.

 

I am at -93 1x and 2 to 3 bars for 3G. I have never dropped a call in my house. I've been with VZW for 5 years now and the service EVERYWHERE (with uncommon exceptions now an then) has been fantastic.

I left AT&T after 5 years because we had to walk to our driveway to even MAKE a call! They kept telling me year after year "we are going to be putting a tower close to your house soon". That was all lies and BS. It's been 5 years since I dropped them, and still when people come over with AT&T, they have call problems (Dropped, no service, etc)...