I took a similar stance also a few years ago.
1) *Never* answered unrecognized calls. (And, you’re also right, “recognition” has been way better via cell phones that PBX systems – for external callers.)
2) *Never* listened to the complete voice mail — just pressed the “delete” function mid playback — unless, it was a genuine caller and supplier/partner with whom I already had a relationship or was interested in developing a relationship.
3) Last gig, actually had 2 numbers: 1) that the corporate receptionist gave out / transferred people to. That number went directly to vmail and never actually rang to a real phone. 2) my “real” number that I gave out to people I genuinely wanted to be available by phone for. (Also had 2 different business cards printed.)
4) Also developed a standard “CIO” address email (i.e. cio@xyz.com) for those business services that learned to market via email.
Never did reach Nirvana though. Was looking for an intelligent directory that would “screen pop” the resulting inbound number based on at least 2 sources: 1) corporate address book, and 2) *very* important, personal/professional address book. Otherwise, with no/little information about the caller coming through, and unless I actually visually recognized the number, the call went to vmail. Your/my tactics seem so “20th Century”; I hope someone sheds some 21st Century solutions on the topic.