replacement from Verizon -- your opinion desired

[yotoad]

i'm new to this forum, but thought that the people here would have some good insight --

so i have a custom ROM setup the way I want it for a while now (based on 3.5) -- i've had my xv6700 since march 2006, and have taken really good care of it, and besides the usual scratches and dings it looks pretty good. the only issue is with my joystick thingy (technical terminology i know) -- it's EXTREMELY loose and i have to be pretty deliberate in my navigation with it. I talked to the Verizon insurance people to see if i qualified for a replacement claim and i do . . . so my question is -- do i get a replacement? what has been your experience with replacement 6700s from Verizon? are they refurbs? lower in quality? any big issues i should know about like incompatibility with new ROMs, etc.?