Well, it's actually an iPhone 4s I just got on eBay, and it's activation locked, which means the cruddy thing's probably useless! I didn't realize the implications of this until it was too late, hence my frustration (this wouldn't have been a problem if I'd researched first).

There is a service that says it can undo this "damage" for $3.50, but I don't know if it'll work.

I also read conflicting reports that restoring it with an IPSW of some version of 7 (probably the latest) would fix it, but I am uncertain about that as well.

Oh, well... Maybe I could try a logic board swap? Trade it in? Use it as a very fancy paperweight?

c