Seriously? Even if you take out the battery for a few minutes you aren't able to go into the screen where you can do a factory reset or wipe data? I can't imagine pulling the battery out and it being stuck. One thing you may want to try out is pull out the battery for 3-5 minutes and with the battery out push the power on button for about 15+ seconds. This is supposed to totally discharge the phone. Put your battery back in and do the 3 button start up and see if you can access the factory reset/wipe data option, volume down to select the option and if your camera button does not activate it push your home button. I've done that when my camera button does not work.
The other thing you can do is call Sprint and yes I know they are pretty much worthless but call until you get someone that will write you up a ticket to take it to a Sprint repair center and get an exchange. Obviously you will get a refurbished phone and not a new one but at least you'll have one that's been checked out by Sprint.
Last trick, constantly call Sprint Customer Service/Tech Support and keep complaining about how your phone not working. Tell them you are disabled or something, live alone etc., and you are not able to get to a store. They do have the authority to send you an exchange phone by mail and when you receive it you also get a return package to send in your bad phone. I know this for a fact because when I purchased my phone in Aug 2011 and my phone was never working properly within 3 weeks I had gone through 3 phones, (New, not refurbished because I went to the store I purchased them from. OfficMax). But what I'm telling you is that you keep complaining to them and make a bunch of calls during the course of the day. It may be a headache to do so but keep calling until you get one that will send you an exchange phone through the mail. This is why I'm suggesting you say you are disabled, injured and are not able to get out or whatever creative thing you want to use.
I know they can and will do this if you can get the right customer support/tech support personnel because I've had this offered to me twice but they were going to send me a Nexus S or HTC Evo 4G so I don't see why they can't do the same with an exchange Epic.
I'm going to assume you have insurance which is why you went to the Sprint store so worse case, bust the phone, run it over with your care whatever just destroy it. Either way you have to pay the $100 deductible unless you just find someone willing to sell you a used one on e-bay, Craigslist etc.
Just trying to give you some other options. I know it sucks being without a phone. Hopefully one of the great people on this forum will be able to give you a simpler fix so this is just a last resort way of getting your phone or a phone that works.
