All the hatred and frustration with AT&T will most likely happen again with Verizon several years down the road. The resistance against dumb carrier policies is a war that will go on indefinitely. Those participating in the resistance are often criticized as whiners and dreamers, as if their efforts are entirely fruitless. There’s a big difference between simply whining and complaining and working to raise awareness on a significant and troublesome policy change.
If Big Red had gotten the iPhone first, I think there would be a lot of clamoring for Apple to put it on AT&T. No carrier was prepared for the the kind of usage the iPhone introduced in 2007. Yes, AT&T is terrible in places, but I think anyone would be with that kind of strain.
(Granted, AT&T has been slow to upgrade their network, which hasn’t made the PR any better, but that’s a different problem.)
As a Verizon customer, I’m not sure I want the iPhone on the same network as my Droid. If their network can’t handle it, it will effect me, too.