I currently run an unsexy Android phone, so I could bare with something less than optimal. It runs, makes phone calls and I can play with it, so I am happy and fairly easy to please. With that being said, I just checked ebay and you're right, the surround is listed quite cheap. I'm currently in Canada (for now) so I wonder how easy it is to unlock so I can run it on a Canadian carrier?
I paid $25 USD to get mine unlocked from htcimeiunlock.com. I'm told you can get them for half that price. Got an unlock code back about 15 minutes after I paid for it.