Update,
I attempted to contact First Colony Apple Store again and requested to speak to the "Genius Admin" or "Lead Genius" as per some very specific instructions that were emailed to me privately. They took my name and told me that someone would contact me.
Never heard back.
I figured with all the hoopla surrounding iPhone 5 this might be normal and everyone might be bit busy.
Tried calling again later in the day and same thing. Been noticing a crazy amount of traffic to my blog from various "Apple" IP addresses and some tweets and retweets about my post from Apple Retail employees. The commentary on twitter gave me a brief pause.
Several people from this forum advised me to email Tim Cook directly, said it worked for them in resolving persistent customer service complaints that hit a brick wall. Sent an email recapping what was essentially stated here and on my blog post. I did it after much thought and mindful examinations of my own motives and expectations. What I would like to see happen and what I was willing to live with.
Yesterday someone from their Corporate Executive Relations team called me on the phone to follow up personally. They recorded my serial number over the phone and asked me to verify it in person (I took the machine out, flipped it over and removed the battery to read the #SN). She asked to verify which Apple Store location I was dealing with and some other additional info.
I was told in no uncertain terms that the NVIDIA logic board repair program had definitively expired and that option was no longer on the table. There were no exceptions that could be made.
Fair enough.
From there we talked about the flat Depot repair rate of ~$310 for tier one repairs. She said she would need to get in touch with Apple's repair depot, find out what they know or don't know and figure out next steps. She gave me her contact information over the phone and followed up via email later that night but said it would take the better part of the week to follow up on it thoroughly.
I'll provide updates on what happens later this week. I guess for better or for worse it will be pretty final.
For what it is worth the courtesy and professionalism of Apple's Corporate Executive Relations department is day-and-night different from the AppleCare reps I got and described earlier.
Much thanks to everyone for their suggestions and advice and especially to those that contacted me privately with more detailed information. It provided a useful roadmap for sure.
