That's a great story, but I'll bet it's a rare one -- especially when talking about the "major" wireless carriers. A locked phone with a plan can cost pennies compared with the price of an unlocked phone. (Speaking of new phones here, since I bought an unlocked LG on eBay for $30.) If a major carrier "gives" someone a phone for $9.99 plus a plan, I highly doubt that they would be eager to unlock the phone for the customer when the locked version cost $300 w/out a plan and an unlocked version costs $700 on the free market.

Tim