Random activation lock and more

When you get to the bottom of the Apple Support document, it suggests reaching out to Apple Support and honestly given the set of circumstances you're had, that's exactly what I'd do.

I'm not sure you understand we are all users on this forum. I don't work for Apple. No one here does.

But I feel pretty confident if you went to the Apple Store Genius Bar, they would in fact not just give you a new iPad in replacement. You are out of warranty and you don't have AppleCare. You could try and see if they would provide what is called an out of warranty replacement, which will cost you about 60% of the price of the iPad when it was new.

If I were you, I'd be more inclined (if I wanted to stay with a Mini) to trade up to the new Mini 5, which now includes support for Apple Pencil.

No, not 60% off. You would pay 60% of the price of the iPad when it was new.

And no again, you would not get 60% of the price of a new iPad Mini 5 covered by trading your device in.

You can see what the Out of Warranty cost is for an iPad Mini 4 in this link: iPad Repair - Official Apple Support As you can see in this link, an Out of Warranty replacement will cost you $299.

To see what the trade value of your iPad, you can use this link: https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in?afid=p238%7CIqGM0VCS-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_78615192005766_pgrid_2959797630_&cid=aos-us-kwbi-brand--slid---apple+trade+up-be-product-

Note however, Apple will inspect the iPad and run diagnostics on it. If there is physical damage or it fails diagnostics, the trade value will most assuredly be affected.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Unless you purchased the iPad less than 12 months ago, your iPad is no longer within warranty, unless you purchased AppleCare at the time you bought it which would extend the warranty to two years. I can't speak for Apple, but it's not likely they'll just replace it. But you could trade it in and get a credit to use towards a new iPad.

You're most welcome

Clearly there's an issue with your iPad. Restoring from iCloud backup didn't help you. If I read your post correctly, did you restore your iPad from an iTunes backup? If you didn't, it would be a good thing to do. Backup your iPad to your computer using iTunes, then restore it from the iTunes backup. Restoring from iTunes would put a fresh new copy of iOS on the iPad.

The last resort method would be to erase the iPad to new, and NOT restore from backup. You can turn on cloud photos, messages, photos, etc, and download your apps manually.

I don't know what else to suggest. You've done all the big things you can do. Did you actually visit the Genius Bar at your Apple Store? I can tell you if it was mine, I'd replace it. But that's me.