I think you’re mistaken Timbuktu.
I installed ExDialer to try what you said. I went to “apps” and deleted the standard setting (“standaard waarden wissen”, in dutch) for the telephone and for the contacts.
After that I tried calling someone: I can choose between Skype and the default Telephone. NOT for ExDialer, for some reason. And when I want to view a contact I can choose for the Contact View from ExDialer, but when I CHANGE that contact, I’m being sent to the default contact app. Just as I mentioned.
I noticed, in the app info, it says ExDialer is allowed to change contacts and make calls, but I see that in the other apps as well. I restarted my phone, but that didn’t make a difference.
I tried Default App Manager (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appiator.defaultappmanager) and Better Open With (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aboutmycode.betteropenwith). I removed and reïnstalled ExDialer, which didn’t help. Changing the default contact-editing app was not possible with the before mentioned apps.
I tried another Dialer app, True Phone Dialer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hb.dialer.free), to make sure the trouble is not with ExDialer. Same thing: I select it with Default app Manager to be the default Dialer, but that doesn’t work, I get a pop-up which lets me choose between Skype and the default Dialer.
I use WidgetHome (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.ne.biglobe.widgets) as a Launcher, to make sure THAT isn’t causing the trouble, I switched to the FairPhone Launcher. Same thing when I try to call: I can’t choose except between Skype and default dialer. Aaarrghh…
I DISABLED (and cleared the data) Skype and the Default Dialer in Settings, Apps. STILL the same result?!?!
I used CCleaner to delete chache (don’t know if it cleans also the needed info). Restarted my FairPhone. Didn’t help either. Removed Skype. Now I get no choice, it calls with the (disabled) default dialer, while I have ExDialer and True Phone Dialer still installed…
Something wrong with my Android? (4.2.2.) Or is this common? Could someone test this too?