Ok. I will respond to another one of your devils advocate posts:
I should rephrase. Not policies. GOOD policies. Policies that only account for provider side actions. There is no variables left to the end users.
If the data plans are tiered. Then the user can use their data however they want.
If the warranty agreement is voided when you unlock the device. Then it is voided. You could require the user to call the company to get your unlock key. That way, even if you could hack the unlock app. It doesn't matter. You called in. You switched to the dev plan. And now you are a dev. You pay this much a month. There will be no way to exploit the system like that. There are no things that can be exploited. GOOD policies fix problems. BAD policies get exploited. The only reason the provider is dealing with it now. Is because it started putting lots of strain on their network... and now they either need to build more infrastructure. Or stop people from tethering. They are still trying to attack it in silly ways. Update the baseband.... That will just be hacked again. Send out notices... People will just ignore them.
Change the policies so that it doesn't matter what the user does. They could do anything they want... in the end they have to pay X amount of money for the phone and Z amount of money per month. And have those variables be numbers that make it worth it. Does that prove my point.
{{ WugFresh }}
Not at all. Let's break down your post step by step:
1) "There is no variables left to the end users" -- I'll ask it again, and I know you enjoy avoiding this question, but here goes: so you're saying that every dev and every wannabe dev, will just say "Wow, VZW locked us down. There's nothing we can do. They have stopped development in its tracks. There's no point in even trying to find some way to beat the system, because there is none...I give up!"? Is that what you're saying?
2) "If the data plans are tiered. Then the user can use their data however they want." -- so if a tiered user goes over his plan limits and gets charged extra, they'll all...every single one of them say "oh those VZW guys got us! i went over my limit and i deserve to pay what I was charged. No complaints here!" Is that what you're saying?
3) "If the warranty agreement is voided when you unlock the device. Then it is voided." -- so when a non-saavy user reads an online instructional on how to root their phone, and bricks its, they'll say "oh those big galoots at VZW! They got me! I'm not going to call in and ask for a replacement. I deserved this!!" Is that what you're saying?
4) " You could require the user to call the company to get your unlock key. That way, even if you could hack the unlock app. It doesn't matter. You called in." -- so VZW will somehow implement a hack proof plan? where there is no possible way on the planet that a dev can't figure out how to hack it so that it appears you're phone isn't rooted even if it is? is that what you're saying?
5) "Change the policies so that it doesn't matter what the user does. They could do anything they want... in the end they have to pay X amount of money for the phone and Z amount of money per month." -- so just by saying "we will not support you" every user will be appeased? they'll mess up their phone and say "ah well, my $600 or $250 phone is down the drain, no point in arguing with verizon because I knew what I was doing. Every android user will just adopt a new philosophy of "let's pay more and never complain"...is that...really...what...youre...saying?
