My iPad Air is unusable now thanks to a software upgrade. Help Please.

My iPad Air went from IOS 9 to the latest IOS 12 available (automatically without warning me).

I put the device on the side to do something else and then 15 minutes after (if not less) the "Hello" screen appeared...ok...no big deal, the problem is that now i can't activate the iPad because it gives me an error saying:

"The iPad could not be activated because the activation information could not be obtained from the device.

Disconnect your iPad, make sure the SIM card is inserted correctly and, if you use a SIM PIN, tap Unlock to enter it, and reconnect your iPad".

This is what i have done so far:

1. Restore in DFU mode (muuuultiple times)
2. I haven't removed the SIM card from the device because it a WIFI Model only (not sure why is asking for one to be removed)
3. Try to restore in multiple computers (Windows and Mac)
4. Called the Tech Support Help to see if they could help, they sent me to the store.
5. Took it to the store to the "Geniuses" to see if they would do anything to fix it but no, they didn't (I think they just laughed at me actually for trying to revive a 6yo device haha).
6. This smart guy told me "this is because is iCloud locked and is locked"...LOL...it was't. I took it off of my account in front of him and then his "i know what i'm talking about" face disappeared...oh well.

I'm really frustrated, sorry.

The only thing i haven't tried is actually what the guys at the store told me to do...recycle it...sucks!, they iPad was working fine until it decided to update itself.

The iPad was updated, that i know because immediately after trying to activate it for the very first time, the Tech Support confirmed that it was actually updated so now, i don't know what to do.

Does anyone have an idea of what could be happening. I really want to rescue this iPad, it works great for me on basic stuff, so why give up on something that Apple Software broke?...hahaha

Any ideas will be well received.