A car is not a NEED either, but if you buy one and the A/C doesn't work I'm sure you would be pretty pissed if they told you that it drives fine, which is what the car is for, and that all you need to do is open to window to get some air in...
One of the reasons I got the Captivate is for the Navigation, which won't work if the GPS is bunk. I sent email to AT&T and they gave me the big FU you can't return it cuz it's past 30 days and they ONLY support ATT NAV for GPS.
And that is why you would need to go thru Samsung. ATT is not having the issue with GPS, Samsung is.
I have owned a 1995 Dodge Intrepid...it was known for 3 issues, Air conditioning going out, water pump going out and transmission going out. I babied that transmission like no other, but the other two things did happen. It was a known problem on that line of cars. I bought the car knowing that this was their history. Should I hold Dodge accountable for me buying something I already knew was a potential problem?
Sure, the ones that got this when it first came out have a gripe. If you choose not to do research on something like a cell phone, at this point, that is kinda your bad.
But, as I have said, take the right avenues to take care of the problem. If Samsung doesn't take care of it, have at it. My statement of us (Americans as a whole) being sue happy is an accurate one. If Samsung wants to stay in the cell phone market, word of mouth is one of the best or worst things for you....
I am waiting for my Captivate to arrive today (Dang AZ Tornadoes of all things!!), but I am not going to sue if it does not work. I spent a whopping $60 on this phone. I am not planning on leaving ATT. So, if it doesn't work out, I will find another phone that will. I rolled the dice, I have to understand that I may not like the phone. Who knows.
As I said, the ones who bought when it first came out have a whole lot more of a gripe for sure. And if they used the proper channels and have had no luck (ATT, Samsung, retail store you bought from, etc) then utilize that powerful word of mouth feature God gave you naturally, and tell your friends how Samsung wronged you, and affect them on their bottom line. I really hate to break it to you, but Samsung may lose in a CA, but it's just the customers who are gonna pay for it.