Time for a new cellphone

My cell phone made a sound like a lovesick baby moose this morning, rather than the alarm song I'm used to hearing. So, I need a new phone now. probably want to get one of these smart phones. I'm not up on all the latest bells and whistles on smartphones and calling plans, and so I'm looking for advice.

My requirements are pretty basic. Make phone calls, send and receive text messages and e-mail to my regular ISP account and my phone company e-mail address.

highly desirable is synchonization to my laptop to export pictures and files, and synch up a calendar between my phone and laptop. I do not want any of my files or calendar stuff up on gmail or other third party service. If I have to, I'll setup some kind of server at home to store that stuff. Google and the other free services seem to play fast and loose with customer data they are holding, so basically I don't trust any of them with my data.

Currently on verizon, and reasonably happy with the service, but I can change for the right plan and device.

Standards based devices highly preferred. So chargers that use regular USB plugs and any valid USB source to charge the phone. (I'm glaring at you Motorola) No motorola horseshit with having to buy motorola specific chargers for my phone.

Nice to have features is the ability to act as a wifi hotspot for my laptop in the absence of other available connectivity.

Physical durability is a big feature. I work as a repair tech and theater electrician, so I'm welding, using power tools, crawling into awkward spaces and laying down on top of the belt holster holding the phone, so a pouch plus phone combination that is robust is important.

And, of course, as inexpensive as possible.

Thanks for advice and links.