Did you every try that clear storage option? That clear storage option would wipe the phone and restore back to stock image. Go head try it now, drop back into the bootloader and try it. I am sure you know this though because of your background as a repair tech....though I suppose if you really were a repair tech then you wouldn't have panicked in the first place because you would have known that it's nearly impossible to brick a device, and the boot loader screen is a sure fire sign that it's not bricked.
As far as the money goes. I am sorry it's happening but you the practice of holding the money from your credit card while they wait to make sure your device makes it back to them is not uncommon. Western Digital for example does this with hard drives. If you have a hard drive that needs to be replaced under warranty then you two options A) Send the drive back and wait for the replacement or B) Have them send you a new drive and then you send the old one back. Of course with option B you need to secure the new drive with a credit/debit card. They do this so people don't run off with a free drive. It sucks as a consumer that it has to be this way, but it would suck a whole lot more if we as the consumer had to subsidize the cost of all those stolen devices.
I know you don't want financial advice but it pains me a bit to see people blaming a company for being ill informed. The device has a warranty on in it and HTC would have given you the same options next month for a warranty return / exchange. If it really was coming down to the wire on paying your mortgage then a rational and responsible person would have waited until next month and then went through with it. Now I understand your need to have a phone because your business depends upon it - guess what so does mine! It's because of that reason I always have a spare phone. I have a spare LG Rumor in my sock drawer. It would suck using it and would be a inconvenience but clients will still be able to get a hold of me and bottom line that's the important part.
To the people who say that the idea of selling a phone unsubsidized is a failed idea - you are wrong. It's a pretty common and popular practice in most of the world. However I do agree the US market (CDMA & GSM carriers) make it a bit more challenging. Yet there are many 3rd party companies that sell unlocked GSM phones to US customers. However those customers buy into knowing that their support option will be the manufacture. Nexus One customers should be aware that they are buying a phone sold through a sales channel that is basically "new" to the US market place. Google and HTC are really the first major companies to attempt this in the US on this type of scale. Obviously there is going to be issues.
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