tgp, I never used the word "conspiracy". There is an attitude in Verizon corporate against Microsoft. It's that simple, and is not speculative.
The vast majority of people walk into a phone store and ask for recommendations. I've observed staff direct people to phones that did not meet, at all, the needs as expressed by the client. I've seen people afterwards struggle to make phones work for them while they wait for two years to have the next upgrade.
When I show people a Windows phone, they are amazed at how easy it is to use. When they see the photos, they are totally impressed. I happen to also have an iPhone 6+ ( needed for job related apps ). The Lumia Icon always wins with photo quality. The integration of features in the Lumia really impresses people, as does the voice quality. After I show the phone, people often ask "Why didn't they show me this one at the store?" Ask the sales person and he will say "I never demo those phones. I don't really know much about them." In fact, a couple told me they had never sold one, and the others had only done so when someone asked for it specifically.
People are loyal to Windows Phones because they are well built, and have some excellent features. Sales are dependent on retail staff, and if they don't make people aware of a product, they won't consider it. If I ran a Verizon store, and if they reinstated the Icon, plus had demo models of the M8 Windows version, and the new low end, I'd guarantee sales would outpace the other stores because every sales person would be solidly trained to work with clients to find the best solution for their needs, which would include an acquaintance with Windows Phones and iPhones, not just Android.
It's not conspiracy, but it is attitude.