Sorry to hear it! I definitely will post back.
For the most part, it seems if you are cool to the VZW tech you speak with, they are very helpful. The moment you rub them the wrong way, the less they will help you, since they technically don't have to help you add a foreign device to their network. Anyhow, I'm feeling hopeful about it all.
Here is the link to my chrome defect pics. and thread!
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=826184