I'm been a big proponent of windows phone since the wp7 days. I was the only wireless rep in a whole region selling them at one time. I'm disappointed that the 950 is not coming to Verizon. I'm due to upgrade next week and I'm looking to go for another platform. Sorry, but Microsoft needs to get in bed with Verizon and figure this out.
Just because you are due and upgrade doesn't mean you have to take it. I've been upgrade eligible since June. My phone still works, nothing better is out there for me to upgrade to without switching to platforms/carriers I really don't like. So, I wait.
There is still a possibility that the 950/950XL will be usable on Verizon's network. All indications are that the phones should be compatible with the network but the necessary band has been disabled. Due to quirks in the CDMA networks, phones have to be tested on specific carriers networks unlike GSM which if it works on one it works on all.
If Microsoft gets the phones tested by a third party for Verizon's network, then the FCC would require Verizon to activate the phones. Due to Verizon's use of Band 13 frequencies, Verizon must activate any phone that passes that third-party verification. I've read that this verification requires a manufactured phone (not a prototype) and Microsoft doesn't have any yet. In fact, Microsoft hasn't gotten any FCC certifications for the 950/950XL.
If you like the Windows Phone platform, stick it out a little bit. Window 10 mobile is still a month or two out and until that is ready for release, there won't be any new Window's phones. And while Verizon will probably never sell them, there is still a good possibility that they will be able to be activated by Verizon customers sometime during Q1 2016 by my guess.