this looks like a good deal

I don't know about this model or getting a refurb, but the panasonic phones I have bought recently have all been good and MUCH better than vtech

I think this one has talking Caller ID, cool.

Yep, talking caller ID can be handy. My last set was a Uniden and I had 2 handset failures. The Panasonic seems to have much better build quality and ergonomic features.

Panasonic are generally better than VTech, though VTech is much better in the DECT6 era than they were back in the 2.4Ghz and prior eras. We've two different VTech Dect6 sets that work fine. Well one is actually branded AT&T but it's just a more stylized Vtech inside. Got it over the Panasonics because the office needed an inexpensive phone with a numeric call indicator on the base station which the Panasonics unfortunately lack till you get into their busine$$ cla$$ phones.

You don't want a refurb from eCost though, eCost plays fast and loose with what they call refurb'd. Most places would sell same condition stuff on a separate table as 60% off scratch-n-dent.