BlackBerry Pearl 8130

I want to get this phone on my verizon line but they are forcing me that I must get data service. I explained to them that I just want to use the phone for Talking on it and TEXTING. I love the texting feature with SureType and the size of this Blackberry is nice and small. Anyone know if the guy at the Verizon store was just trying to make his commission selling Data Service or it is true and why?

Thanks