I got a new phone now - a Verizon Wireless Galaxy Note II.

Overall I'm pretty happy with it except for a couple of things.
1. Verizon - in all there wisdom - locked the bootloader.
2. Verizon - to expand on their infinite wisdom, also removed some of the s-pen software that the other carriers left it.
3 Verizon - in an attempt to prove they don't like their customers, also disabled the non-verizon bands on the phone - so you can't use it on GSM networks despite the hardware and such being there.
4. Verizon - keeping on track with being idiots - also took out the wireless charging ability.
4. Despite the specs and advertising saying it has FM radio built in - it does not. And it's not just disabled - the hardware ain't there on the LTE versions of the phone.

I figured out a way to unlock the bootloader, enable the global features of the phone, root the device, and found the missing s-pen software.
As for the FM radio - well no dice on that one as the hardware ain't there.
The wireless charging - there is a hack for that but I'm chicken to disassemble my phone and start soldering things.

So for the most part I'm happy. The only thing that really ticks me off is that they attempt to lock you out of being able to use the GSM bands. I recall a few years ago that one of the carriers got sued (and lost) for disabling features of the phones (in that case it was bluetooth DUN ability). Isn't there some law or FCC regulation that says they can't be doing this? I know the FCC has rules that if you're on 4G network that the carrier CAN NOT restrict you from teathering the device and CAN NOT charge you extra for doing so. Even though that rule exists I know that the USA carriers don't give a crap. I know ATT was still charging people extra for that a few months ago when I checked and so was Verizon at the start until a bunch of people (myself included) contacted the FCC and filed complaints. This just goes to show you that the USA carriers don't care about their customers, the FCC rules, or federal laws. geeeeze.