Well yes you would have to give up your original phone, but I would rather do that then 1) buying parts 2) tinkering with my phone 3) voiding my warranty........ but you dont go without a phone at all. Verizon overnights you the refurbished one and when you receive it you mail yours back, so you have a phone the entire time. And I could care less about getting a refurb phone, they are just reconditioned used phones, yours is a used phone. I have (unfortunately) had to send a D1, and when I had it my Incredible back and both refurbs were perfectly fine. Couldnt tell they werent new.