I have heard rumors of this idea working with att: switch phone to a non smart phone, call in and switch it to your main device and add data for $10 a month. Once new phone arrives put sim in new phone and you are good to go. I haven't tried it and I doubt I would but I have seen many people talk about doing it.
As far as overseas, them guys have their $hit together when it comes to wireless. It is a shame they can't standardize it a little more here. It is about like the metric system, it is so easy but yet we have never made the switch.
Last month 4G was introduced in major cities in Sweden with speeds up to 150 mbit (currently 55 mbit). You should complain.