OK here is the logic that I don't understand.
If I am an AT&T user in good standing with a contract after buying the 4s I am either required to complete the contract or pay the ETF right?
So why not make us happy and unlock the phone now so that I can use it overseas with local sims, since even if I want to break the contract I will end up paying the ETF. There is no way AT&T won't get their subsidy money back for the iPhone.
The only reason to make this difficult is so that AT&T can continue to gouge us for international roaming.
I think it would have been better if they unlocked all users phones 90 days after buying the phone as long as the contract is in good standing - like verizon.
You hit the nail on the head there. The contract/ETF is how AT&T makes sure they subsidy is covered... and should be the only way they're allowed to do it by law.
However, they use the network lock anyway, saying it's about the subsidy but it's not... it goes much further than that. It's being used to force customers to continue to use AT&T as their carrier. It's anti-competitive and shouldn't be legal... but it is in many countries... for now.
At least AT&T isn't charging $50 to unlock like Rogers is... kudos to them.