What options do I have if I want to buy a rootable flagship phone on Verizon (US)?

[lucidstate]

I'm in the market for a new phone, but I don't want to leave Verizon. The coverage is too good. I want to be able to root my new phone and load custom ROMs. However, it seems that every phone I research has a locked bootloader on Verizon. Are there any high-end phones that don't have a locked bootloader? Is there any way to buy a phone from another vendor and activate it on Verizon?

 

[EarlyMon]

The only truly safe bet ever on Verizon is a Nexus and the Nexus 6 is high end, user unlockable and rootable.

(Every bootloader is locked by default for user security, regardless of phone.)

Every other device and you're at the mercy of an exploit being found and used by you before it's closed.

For the HTC One M9, keep an eye on -

http://theroot.ninja/download.html

When that says Verizon M9 supported, jump at the chance if you're an M9 owner. That fix is permanent and really what you want for an HTC.

I have no opinion about any others because if you can't say something nice...