It used to be this way: you commit to a two-year contract with a wireless service and get locked, but deeply discounted or even free phone. With iPhone situation is beyond pale:
- You get what seems to be a full-price, but locked phone (from $300 to $600 depending on the model and the time you bought it);
- You get locked into two-year contract;
- And Apples feels free to brick your iPhone if you have installed 3rd party software or unlocked it.
While all this might be legal, this looks like one big mass-screwing of Apple/AT&T customers. I feel lucky iTunes refused to sync my iPhone with 64 bit Windows and I could return iPhone for the full refund. I was planning on unlocking the phone, but after I learned about modified iPhones turned into "iBricks" after the latest firmware upgrade, iPhone deal looks like one big sucker.