@alpinem3 I experienced the same thing.. Update was pushed and device rebooted but didn't update. There isn't a way to manually update without a Sprint data plan. I hope someone has suggestions!
I had the same issue while rooted with Z4mod. I was able to unroot and the update installed successfully. However, after the update Z4mod no longer works. I was able to root again using SuperOneClick v1.6.5.
To be honest with you it's kind of what you are looking for.....the update added a few more widgets. It added some nice (nice to me at least) date, time, weather widgets that can be installed independently of each other or together. It also added a social feed widget. It changed the hotness of certain colors, not bad looking at all. The only thing that I don't like is the new boot up screen, it's a Sprint splash screen that is choppy (at least on mine) and seems very out of place. No longer will you have the full Samsung galaxy screen.
It's an interesting update and I have no problem with it even though it broke root since I used the z4root method, but even then I wasn't upset at all since there really isn't a stable ROM or Clockwork recovery method available that makes root necessary for me at this point. I do hear that you will be ok if used the superoneclick method