Personally I think it's Verizon's choice to go CDMA that's causing the problem.  Since it's easier to write OS' for GSM (since it works on more carries/devices) every update requires modification to work on Verizon's network.  So once an update comes out Verizon's "vigorous testing process" is really just a game of chicken to see who will eat the cost of modifying the antenna portion of the update Google, Verizon or Samsung and the loser is us.  Personally, I feel that Verizon deciding not to conform to global standards should dictate that they should eat the costs of doing business that way.  Since Verizon/Vodafone's US Wireless Division operates at an average of a 28% profit margin, I think they can afford it just fine.