Update ....
Spent two hours on chat with Verizon ... first normal rep then specialist. I was unable to make the specialist even understand what had occurred ... which means to me he was purposefully avoiding the issue and simply continuing to restate processes. I wasn't surprised, but copied the 60 exchanges in chat and forwarded to Verizon. No answer.
So, following my usual process of at least TRYING to get even, I continued on the path to buying a phone and finding a data provider.
I finally figured out WHY the Verizon SIM card equipped iPhone had a different part number than the exact same non-Verizon, generic unlocked iPhone ... apparently, it is just the fact that the Verizon phone has a SIM card in it.
No one could actually tell me this at Apple, however ... weird.
I had been reading up on MVNOs last night ... one that gets rave reviews in called Boom! Boom uses various networks vice just one, as Total Wireless apparently does. It also is a US company with native English speaking phone reps. Rates are pretty close to TW ...
Boom - 5 GB, Verizon system, unlimited call and text in US, $39.99 (oddly, there is no multi-line plan on the Verizon system), supports hotspot on iPhones
Total Wireless - 5 GB, Verizon system, unlimited call and text in US, Canada and Mexico, $35 plus tax (5% discount with autopay), does not support hotspot
As I got into the research, the aggressive and near-criminal (mentioned hundreds of times on line) biz practices of America Movil got my attention ... between this and the Asian call support - think I might pay a bit more and try Boom!.
