can I use a cell phone for just internet access if i find free wifi?

Yes.

Yes. I had a boost mobile and I could get on the Internet without searching for wifi...I could watch youtube videos and search on google but that's about it. But on other phones you are still limited to what you can do online (although you can do more than boost) and you have to seach and connect to wifi. Boost doesn't have that. Honesty, I think if you don't want to buy a whole computer and internet something like a kindle or ipad would be useful to you.

U wouldnt have to pay mobilephone phone manufacturer the monthly payments but u would must pay the provider of the WiFi. Say u go to starbucks, i consider it is like $three to accesst the WiFi, ud must pay starbucks, however not the, say $40, to ur carrier provider what phones are WiFi capable is dependant on ur service

I think...im using an un.activated phone with wifi right now

yes but remember if you want to get the iphone without service it around $650 for the lowest model