Exactly. Lumia is the reason WP exists today. For Vzw to say they have no interest in the Lumia line because it didn't sell well for them is because THEY didn't and STILL don't promote WP.
I have been extremely happy with Vzw's coverage. I'm not happy with their lack of WP promotion/support and their high prices. If T-Mobile offers as good of coverage, their family plans will save us a ton of money. One of the reasons we have stayed with Vzw for so long has been our unlimited data. T-Mobile is offering enough data now that we can switch and it not be a factor.
You didn't pay attention to what I wrote. Consumers aren't that familiar with the Lumia line. Verizon prefers to sell phones that are familiar, that they can directly compare to Android counterparts.
And the DID promote the Icon. It bombed. It was bulkier than the ATIV SE and One M8 for Windows and didn't have microSD expansion, which is a big deal for Verizon customers. They've also noticed that the S6 sales are tracking lower than expected. A key reason is that expandability.
Verizon doesn't feel it is their responsibility to make people have confidence in the Lumia line. It is the OEM that should give people a reason to do so. They've had one good Lumia seller in the 822. The 735 is actually off to a nice start in their eyes. The Icon was a disaster, especially after the One M8 came out. The 928 hit too late and that had much to do with the AT&T exclusivity deal on the 920.
It's not about Verizon driving people to other devices. Yes, they have staff that know little to anything about WP and will not recommend it. But they also have a customer base that is focused on reliability. AT&T customers tend to be more adventuresome and willing to try something new. T-Mobile customers are value driven. Sprint customers are... I don't know. I'm not sure why anyone would want to have a contract with Sprint.
This was not just a case of Verizon saying, "We don't want a Lumia". It was a case of Microsoft also saying that they did not want Verizon to sell a Lumia. If they do go the unlocked road and provide a phone that works on Verizon, they get to provide the updates directly and they don't have to wait forever for Verizon to clear the phone. Unless you are a big name product (iPhone, Galaxy, LG G series, Moto, HTC One), Verizon will take their time. The good news is they cleared the One M8 quickly. A Windows version of an established Android handset can be cleared almost immediately as long as Verizon is happy with their own software on the platform.
So from Microsoft's perspective would it be better to keep giving them Lumias and waiting? The 735 was supposed to arrive on Verizon back in October/November. Would it be better to just sell the handset unlocked directly to enthusiasts, ensuring it could work on VZW while letting Verizon pursue it's preferred model for selling Windows by getting Android handsets loaded with Windows.
If Verizon launches with the G4, M9, and Moto X all running Windows while MS sells an unlocked 950 and 950XL to enthusiasts, how does everyone not win? Verizon gets to put the same handsets running each OS next to each other, which they say sells Windows better. People know the hardware. Microsoft gets to sell the newest Lumias direct AND gets control of those updates while the user also doesn't rely on Verizon for those updates either.
Verizon has long been willing to push Windows, but they never liked dealing with Nokia and felt that their presence as the marquee handset maker actually hindered the ecosystem.
So while Verizon has offered several Lumias since the 822, none have come anywhere near the 822's success.