To the OP,
I would definitely NOT let the phone do the pay as you go option. I've had nightmares with it connecting and getting charged for not even surfing or connecting at all.
I've opted to the do data block which works incredibly well. I am in the same boat as my school has wifi all over the campus.
When I get a picture message it gets forwarded to the
www.vzwpix.com website. I then get a normal text message telling me I have a picture message and to log on to that website to get it.
It's not that much of an annoyance and I don't send or receive many anyway for me to actually care. Just be super careful with the internet. The charges on the pay as you go plan are enough to ruin anyone's day!