Thanks for going a bit more into coherent detail about your experience. Glad your son likes it. :)Ok guys eyes down and look in. YES I did actually try the OS. Luckily my wife has a Samsung SIII which is basically an iPhone with Samsung written on it. Her sim card fits so I tried it.
Having taken the (very flimsy plastic back off the phone) sim card inserted and away we go. Please do be careful taking the back off. I probably am just used to my robust Torch 9860 with its nice metal rear cover. However having activated the screen and spent time setting it up, the first thing I noticed that it's basically a mini playbook. Gesture swipe for everything on the screen, smooth slick just like the pb. Linked effortlessly into the net using wifi hotspot and the browser is very fast and smooth. It would be because it doesn't use the bis and compress data before it arrives on your phone. Great for speed but be prepared to increase your data plan significantly.
Of course not having a bb sim account card inserted so no bridge between the two but don't panic because the Z10 doesn't bridge fully either. It's a long story but my son has a bb and I stole, yes by this time I was that incensed that I stole his sim card and trimmed it to fit the Z10.
The good news is it fit! The bad news is no sms, no calendar, no contacts in fact everything you've all come to know and love has been taken away. It may be temporary but it's still not there and no amount of wishing and hoping will make it work.
I could have gone further for you guys and tested the photo and video capabilities but I must be absolutely honest by this time I was severely pis*** off.
The end result is that for some unknown reason my son likes it. He says it works just like his mother's Samsung SIII. Therefore it didn't get returned as I had already butchered his sim card, he is now using the Z10.
Everyone is happy apart from me. I am still looking for a replacement for my torch.