Hey Milk,
I tested an Iphone 3GS unlocked using wifi tether and my laptop was getting almost 3mbps during the afternoon with ATT. My wife's Pre Plus gave 1.6 - 1.9mbps down, and the EVO is giving like .9-1.2 Mbps.
Maybe it was a fluke with the Iphone? I would expect VZW to be a bit stronger...