So to update on my bad charger... I'm getting a NEW PHONE!!
imo it's silly really... I determined the factory charger was bad so I called tech support to have them send me over a replacement. Not much tech troubleshooting needed really, just told them what I did to figure out it was a bad charger. so they set up an RMA... for a replacement phone!! Seriously? Google just cant have a replacement charger shipped? Anyways, it's there policy to replace the whole thing, phone and all.
So basically they send me an email with the link and the RMA involves going to Google Play and clicking on a phone order but nothing gets charged. The email includes a return label and when I get the new phone, I ship the old one. really dumb to send back a good phone for a charger but I don't go without a phone while they send the new one... so no biggie. I have a 3rd party charger to use in the meantime.