IMHO (which isn't worth much) Verizon is playing masterfully. Remember, the endgame is net subscriber growth. Verizon is the only carrier playing for keeps. S,ince September, there's been a new phone grabbing the headlines every month. As Verizon is the only network with a significant LTE footprint, this is their key differentiator and they want to monetize it.
In September, the SGS2 was released on AT&T and Sprint. Verizon knew that the GNex would blow it out of the water, so they declined carrying it. While we swooned over the SGS2, Apple dropped the iP4S, which made the SGS2 less important. Since then, Verizon has launched TWO new LTE capable phones and when they become less "shiny" will close the year with the GNex - which will start the ICS era.
Verizon is trying to be THE place to go for the latest phones for the rest of the year. THAT seems smart to me. Do I want to wait? No, but I want Verizon to be rewarded for launching leading edge phones so that they do it again next year.