The difference is licensing and carrier contracts. They agree to sell Moto phones and somewhere in the contract they come to an agreement of what will be on the phone. Then you make a contract with Verizon because you aren't just buying a mini-computer, but a service as well that Verizon has "authorized" that mini-computer to use. In that contract, you are agreeing to whatever lame terms on hardware lockdown they wish to uphold. They stamp the phone with their logo and then sell the phone to you at a "discount" more often than not. So technically, they got you by the man stones and can do whatever they want to that phone because you bought a Verizon phone on Verizon's terms.
Not defending them. I don't agree with the practice. I think it is quickly become an ancient practice that more and more people will begin to take notice of and have issues with. It's an old mindset that is beginning to outgrow itself as they continue to abuse it. But it is what it is.
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