If it is indeed just a locked bootloader, the developer community will likely quickly figure out how to unlock it. With an unlocked bootloader root access is easier, and once rooted you can more easily get rid of BLOAT and SPYWARE that carriers add to your phone, install custom ROMs, root requiring apps such as "Stickmount" a free utility that lets you connect external USB devices including hard drives, flash drives, some MP3 players to your cell phone and copy stuff to and from such devices using a $2.25 adapter you can buy on Amazon. And stickmount isn't the only root-requiring app that is quite useful and also legal.
Not everyone wants to do unauthorized tethering. Some people just want a phone with a clean ROM, without spyware and bloat. This is a HUGE low blow to the developer community.
Unless someone figures out how to crack the SGS III's bootloader soon, I am CANCELLING MY PREORDER. That will be one year less that I am on contract and I am moving to another carrier.
Honestly, I could probably even be happy with a stock SGS III. I actually like touchwiz, and miss some of touchwiz's enhancements on my Nexus. But I will be damned if I stay with Verizon and their continuing race to the BOTTOM on caring about their customers.
Locking the bootloader down hardcore is NOT to benefit customers. It's to force their bloat down our throats and not allow customer freedom. If you are knowledgeable enough to unlock and root your smartphone, you are probably smart enough to navigate to this forum for help if you "bork" something (soft-brick, or lockup your device pretty bad).
Every year verizon tries hard to be a bit worse - unlimited data goes bye bye, new every two goes bye bye, early upgrades go bye bye, $30 extra is charged, meaning there is NO SUCH THING as a "free" phone upgrade anymore, but they can still put "FREE PHONE!!!" advertisements up - supremely dishonest and unethical, but now they do it. What else? New sharing plans with PATHETIC gigabytes for your dollars unless you get into the upper tiers.
Sorry about the rant, but I've about HAD IT with verizon. Anyone remember the Fascinate? Yeah, it came with sucky BING, and I called verizon "Berizon" for some time, but you could root and install a SuperClean ROM and be DONE with it. Happy day!
Verizon is trying to take away all our happy days. They are the only carrier with a modified bootloader of the 4 major U.S. carriers. That could've been part of the reason for the delay and why we are the LAST ones to get it. In addition, I read a report (unconfirmed as of yet) that Verizon actually requested Samsung lock it up for them, which would be a clear violation of THIS:
It is Illegal for Verizon to Lock Some Bootloaders (Updated)
