finally got my problem fixed... Used this thread:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=64718&page=3
Got my changed MSL code... than I had to spend an hour on the phone with the sprint tech.. the first tech messed it up more basically making the phone not even work... the advanced tech named Mary of the Kentucky center was very nice and helpful and basically redid something on her end and it worked just fine.
The sprint store was useless... they wanted to send me a new phone.
Still have no idea why my MSL code is different... I had to use that thread to get my changed MSL code and use that when they'd tell me a different code... What effect will this have if my MSL code changed in the future?