Hmmm, a harder time with VZW you say... try being a Qwest customer. We're still back on Rom 2.13 and Radio 1.39- we don't even have working bluetooth yet (thank god for the PPC and XDa GEEKS everywhere)
I had 4 bars at my house and a $79 unlimited minutes plan until Qwest piggybacked onto Sprint's network a few years ago, since then, i have no bars with any of my phones, a $109 unlimited minutes plan and miss half of my calls
Only saving grace was the price of unlimited minutes, (which is now more expensive than sprint and verizon)
Count your blessings, and Don't get me started on the rest