Were you in a verizon Corporate store or some other "Verizon Authorized Retailer"?
I can tell you from my experience, it DOES make a difference...
I walked into a VAR store one time and went over to look at the phones on display. Only customer in the store. I had to ask the guy behind the counter to help me. He came over and I asked to see a working version of the then new BIONIC. (since all they had on the shelf was a picture of said phone) He informs me that they do not have a demo of that phone. I look around and see nothing but pictures of phones all around the store. I ask do you have ANY phones that actually work? He says just my personal phone, and pulls a BB out of his pocket.
I seriously doubt that if I would have walked into that store with a problem that they would have been willing or able to help me.