I'm glad there was at least some resolution to your issue! It's my understanding there is a renewed emphasis on fixing customer service. Cases like yours have proven the need. Your diligence has no doubt helped many others!

But I will repeat: ONLY send the stripped down device for repair. No battery. No back cover. No SD cards. Strip and ship! Trust me: they can troubleshoot without them, and if the device works without your own battery, then you know where the problem lay.

Oh, and I'm personally trying to use the generic term "device" as much as possible.