I use launcher, or a messaging app - I am usually messaging a person when it becomes clear that a call would work better so a few taps inside of that app works well for me.
Launcher is for the few people at work who are never at their desks when I need them 
I’ve been curious about this as well. I have seen many home screens in this forum and others where the phone app is removed. I actually use my small hand held computer that happens to have phone capabilities as a phone, so I don’t think I can remove it, but curious to see how others are dealing with it.
I absolutely agree with you. For me, it’s a communicator and small pocket notebook that allows me to write notes (via Drafts), keep me on time with a calendar (NotePlan), keep me on task (OmniFocus).
I do not use the phone app very often. Dock has: Messages, OmniFocus, Drafts and Mail.