They are selking a phone at a diacount because they expect the customet to use that device on their line. You are exploiting the system and IMO are as bad as every politician out there cheating the system in their favor.
i don't think i was exploiting anything, i was all set to pay the 600 for the s3, however the VERIZON EMPLOYEE told me to do this instead, saving me ~150 dollars. she probably gets a bonus for "signing" me up for 2 yrs on a basic line. bottom line is, she told me it's what they're doing for everyone that wants a new phone who wants to keep their unlimited.
i don't understand if you're missing something from all this. but we're still paying for a data plan for the next 2 years. so nothing shady is going on.