My AirPods Pro (1st generation) make crackling, buzzing or static sounds

I have a pair of Airpod Pro (1st gen) that has the know issue with one of the airpods making a horrible crackling or buzzing sound making them un-usable. This can happen to one or both sides. My set has the problem with the right Airpod. I read about the recall program for this problem where they would be fixed or replaced at no charge. That makes a lot sense since it is a manufacturing defect and I paid $249 for these and I was happy to hear it. I have taken perfect care on these and the problem was not caused by misuse. So I went on the Apple website and it asked me to make an appointment with the Apple Genius bar to begin the process. When they checked them out I was told that in fact the right unit failed and then told me that the left one failed too. Then he explained that the replace/repair program is for AIrPods that were manufactured before October 2020. I bought these from Kohls in December of 2020 so clearly mine must fall under this replacement program with this widely known issue. Well I was told that mine were manufactured in October of 2020 and don't qualify and the replacement program!!! What?!!! Obviously these are part of the units that have the problem! He told me I would have to pay to replace both failed units and it would cost me $180!!!! What?!!! I asked if I can replace just one and he said NO! They both failed and that I had to pay for both!! Then he told me that he would not recommend I do that because I can purchase a new pair of 2nd generation on Amazon for $190 to $200 if I looked for sales and that the 2nd gen are much better!! What?!! This is not right or fair! How was this date determined? ... Randomly? or based on how many units the company was willing to replace?? Looking into this community and this issue I am reading that others with units made in 2021 also have the same problem and they are not covered either!! So if mine were made literally a few weeks earlier they would have been covered by the replacement program that Apple created to cover their KNOWN and ADMITTED manufacturing defect issue. That's crazy! My AirPods are un-suable and the only solution is buy new ones!!!??? Before writing this I called customer service and was escalated to a "Senior" support specialist after I explained my issue. She basically told me the same thing that the "genius" did in the Apple store and there is nothing she can do. When I said it was unacceptable and I want to talk to someone above her she said the only thing I can do is write a letter and gave me the Apple corporate headquarters address in Cupertino!!!! WHAT?!!!! I have to snail mail a paper letter and then pray someone reads it and gets back to me some time in the distant future in 2023 when digital communication to anywhere in the world is common place for just about the entire civilized world???!! LMAO ... That is completely insane and completely irresponsible for a company like Apple to not deal with their own defect. I have been an Apple customer since 1984!!!! I bought a Mac Plus for $2500 and I have been a loyal customer ever since owning almost every Macintosh model ever made and even worked for an Authorized dealer in the 90's. For one of the largest company's in the world to not make sure EVER SINGLE PERSON who spent $249 for a pair of defective AirPod Pros get their units replaced at no cost to them is completely UNACCEPTABLE! Especially people like me who have a pair that was clearly part of that batch of defective units. So I will start here on the Apple website and hope someone in the company with some sort of position of authority will see this or it will be brought to their attention and a brand new pair be sent to me with an apology for selling me a defective pair of premium ear buds. If that doesn't happen soon I will spread this message across social media and anywhere and everywhere I can until this issue is addressed and those of us with these broken AirPods are compensated. Thanks for you attention to this issue!