Sim failure? I think this is a bigger failure than that on Apple's part. Even with this high a number of views though, we're still a very small percentage of Apple's devices.
I was one of the first few posters on this thread, and count myself fortunate the issue hasn't come back on my 4S since then. I hope it doesn't return, but if it does, the phone is going back to Apple. I didn't buy my 4S to be an iPod. I bought it to be a phone - my family's primary phone. If it's so fatally, fundamentally flawed that it can't perform that basic function reliably, why would I keep it?
Apple has no reason to care about any of these issues. They care about keeping their stockholders happy, and they, in turn, care about money. So give Apple a reason to care. Vote with your feet and your wallets. They won't sit up and take notice if you don't. If you can't get your device working with a simple visit to whatever support you have available in your region, return it. Ask for your money back on the 4S and all accessories, and go spend it on one of Apple's competitors, whose device actually does what it's advertised to do.
What are you waiting for? Apple hasn't answered in what, months? Are you waiting for your return window to expire? I bet Apple is. If you like the 4S too much to return it, then evidently you are happy with what it does do well, for the price you paid. Keep the toy, and go buy a real phone. It's always been the rule that a device dedicated to one purpose will do that purpose best. The 4S is trying to be many things...and perhaps is a jack of all trades, and master of none. Like a Swiss-army knife - has a tool (app) for everything, but you wouldn't really want it at a knife fight.
If you went and bought a new Porsche, and it stalled for several minutes every couple miles, and the dealer wouldn't say a word about the issue, or just as bad, they replace it and the issue persists across multiple vehicles, how long would you wait to get your money back and buy an ordinary vehicle that actually did what it was built to do? Be real nice to take your girlfriend for a spin, only to have her help push it to the curb. Would you wait until you lost your job for not being able to arrive on time? Would you wait until you get rear-ended or caught in the middle of an intersection? It doesn't matter how sexy it is if it doesn't work.
Granted, phone and car are different, but the same principles apply. What about that life-changing phone interview? Bet they'd love to have you 'hang up on them'...they wouldn't call you back. Or, perhaps missing that call that your wife is having the baby, and so you don't get to be there. Or that last call from a creditor before they report you to the credit agency and screw up your credit history for the next 7-10 years.
So, I encourage you folks to quit complaining, and start returning. Stick it to them.
