well, they gave him his crossbow and armor because they saved it in the cutscene where Stranger is de-pantsed.
About technology.... it might just be Stranger. I don't remember him being unconfortable about the phone... he was on the phone with Sekto... big badass with alot of money to be offering a Steef bounty. I wouldn't feel all to right talking with someone like that, especially considering that this is the guy who's hunted down all Steef in the general area.
and the laptop... well.... that might just be that he doesn't care... or it could be an intelligence factor
