I guess that is where a lot of us differ and why there are those people saying there are no issues with this/their phone when there clearly are issues that need addressed. I would much rather have a working version of the OS with frequent MAINTENANCE releases to fix any issues then have quick major version updates that introduce problems that I have to live with.
My phone isn't a toy or hobby but a tool I use to make a living so new features and such are not as important to me as a working device.
And that's fine, that's your use and for that use this phone fails. For my use, it doesn't. This is a record that has been spun countless times here.
The Froyo to Gingerbread update was a much bigger and more important update than 4.0.2 to 4.0.4 (not saying the latter isn't important, it's just not on the same scale as an actual, major OS change). For a phone (1) without LTE concerns, (2) with hardware that was more than capable of running it, and (3) that was touted as one of the better/top Android devices, to not get the latest OS that debuted not months after its (the DINC's) release is truly mind boggling. I appreciate your timeline and the maintenance updates, but that doesn't mean that it not getting Gingerbread was a huge let down, and I remember the atmosphere surrounding it's constant GB delay fondly.
Well, I think there are many (not saying you're one of them) that don't use/need a phone for anything important and may not perceive the device acting up as an "issue". Also, I think a lot of the people (again, not necessarily you) are young and this is more of a hobby and they will go to all lengths to defend their purchase because they know they are stuck with it (probably for financial reasons) and they enjoy tinkering with the device.
I know this is true because there are two Galaxy Nexus devices in my household. Mine and my son has one also. His phone has the same "issues" as mine, that are talked about ALL THE TIME in this forum, but since all he does is text and listen to downloaded music on his phone he doesn't perceive these things as "issues" like I do. I find it funny that he has no issues with his phone but is always asking me "dad, do you have a data connection" or "dad, does Pandora cut out on you all the time?", etc.
If all your issues were caused by HD Widgets and you've removed that app why do you feel the need to do the "manual update" in June if Verizon doesn't get their act together? Obviously there are some other issues with the phone that concern you that have you waiting for the update like the rest of us.
First bolded segment - I use this phone for plenty of activities that would be deemed "important." I've used it for client phone calls, phone interviews (numerous), phone conferences (numerous), important emails, etc. It has issues, no doubt, but that generalization is just that--a generalization that undermines the actual, real life experience that other users have had with this phone. Again, just to reiterate, it has issues--I admit that pretty much wherever I go, including my Don't Panic guide.
Second bolded segment - I don't doubt that many are young (I'm 25), I don't doubt that many choose this as a hobby (I do), nor do I doubt that some don't want to break a contract or pay off-contract prices for phones, particularly at this point, that aren't clear "upgrades"--but implying that any of those factors has a major role in why some, like myself, clearly champion this phone, is a general assumption, and an incorrect one at that. Of course, being so general, you could deflect it and say you didn't mean it to this person or that person. But alas.
I defend my purchase because for what I like about it, there's no peer. I can pay off contract prices--I'm not broke by any stretch of the means (I don't know about others, but it's an irrelevant factor regardless). I'm young, but I'm not stupid. Instead of generalizing about those who have posted about their positive experiences with this phone, you should come to where a lot of us are located--the development/rom/flashing subforum--and hangout. Find out why we defend this phone, who we are, what we're like. You don't like your phone, and that's nothing to be ashamed of and no one should treat that lightly. I do like my phone, and plenty of us here do as well, and just like your opinion should not be demeaned by any pointless criteria like age or financial ability, neither should ours.