The biggest argument against an unlocked phone is that there are not enough places that carry Nokia phones. I'd have to - well, past tense since they're closing or have closed the stores - travel to Chicago or NYC, some 1800+ miles each way just for a phone?

Fine, Nokia doesn't wanna subsidize. Nokia doesn't want to make agreements with retailers for their higher N-series or such. Nokia doesn't sell via the retail avenues here in the US. They don't advertise here either.

And people are getting upset about being ignored in the US!?

Oh... and nuknuk... Big Daddy Don Garlits beats your european technoligy [sic] anyday