iPhone 12 Pro Max will not send text messages to non-iMessage recipients- This is a widespread problem no solution

Issue- iPhone will not send messages in the following scenarios

1- Pictures to non-iPhone users

2- Messages to groups with non-iPhone users (both iPhone and non-iPhone users do not get the message)

3- Pictures to groups with non-iPhone users

4- Hit or miss receiving messages from non-iPhone users in group chats

5- Cannot start messages to groups with non-iPhone users

Troubleshooting

1- Reset network settings

2- Reset phone

3- Restored from iCloud backup

4- Restored from Verizon cloud backup

5- Ran diagnostics with Verizon level two tech support

6- Reset the phone as new without loading Apple Credentials (ie loaded as a new phone)

7- Phone was bricked after loading Apple Credentials

Story-

I purchased my iPhone 12 back in November, by mid-December I noticed that I was having issues sending screen shots and other multimedia messages to non-iPhone users. By the end of December it was a long enough issue that I called Verizon. Verizon said that it was a networking issue on their end. After 19 days of back and forth I asked for a new phone. I got sent to the warranty department and knocked out Steps 1-4 for the fourth time since the issue arose. Once I tried step 6 at Verizon's request I was finally able to send picture messages to phone numbers. Once I loaded my Apple ID however (without loading from a cloud back up ie just signing in) the phone stopped sending messages to those numbers. The phone was then going to pull an iCloud back-up (despite still not working) when all of a sudden it bricked. I'm getting a new phone because it is underwarrenty but I wanted to know:

Please help

1- Is anyone else experiencing this?

2- It is clear that Apple ID is the source of the issue since the hardware and software running on the phone were able to send messages prior to loading credentials

3- Is there a solution?

4- How can I avoid this headache when I get my new phone so that it works properly?

Any help would be appreciated, thank you!