People forget that the interwebzzzz is a public network. Anybody can connect, and it's fairly easy to set up a sniffer and grab info from people. You don't need to be the NSA. Also, cell phones are sending their signals through the air. You don't even have to splice a cord. If you want private calls, use a landline.
People want to have the comfort of complete anonymity but also have the conveniences that comes with using the least private forms of communication. Pick one or the other, and understand the trade-offs.
Another thing, the NSA doesn't give a rats ass about you. They're looking for specific patterns/keywords that set off "hmm we should listen more closely to that call" triggers. They don't care what you had for dinner or that your grandpa just had a heart attack. In fact, very few people do.
People want to feel special and unique, which I feel like is the main source of the sensationalism around privacy issues, but honestly, nobody but your close friends/family cares about your secrets or what's going on in your life. I guarantee the NSA doesn't either.