Q: Two step authentication problem

I was recently placed in a very difficult situation with the two tier authentication that denied my access to my Apple account, and use of my iPhone for two weeks.  When I was offered and accepted the two step authentication, which I use on other non-Apple devices and accounts, I didn't realize that required that the trusted device could only be products using iOS operating systems, and quite honestly, wasn't paying too much attention at the time.  Since my only Apple product is my iPhone 5, I didn't realize the danger in doing what I was allowed to do.  That was all done in early April.  In late May, I was using Siri to help find an address when a message came across that my iPhone needed to be activated!!!  I had done nothing to the phone to create the situation, but I was in panic mode.

Long story short, my password would not accept, and I couldn't get to my account because my only trusted device was the iPhone 5 that needed activation.  There may have been ways out of this problem, but I wasn't smart enough to figure how.  Ultimately, I had to put my account into Recovery.  The verbiage indicates it will take at least 48 hours, and may be longer.  What they don't indicate is that longer may be weeks.  Nobody, and I mean nobody, can speed that process despite every convincing piece of info I supplied, and offered Apple Senior Support folks with more proof.  They sent the situation to The Engineers, that obviously sit at the highest reaches of Apple Heaven.  Even with all the valiant efforts on the Senior Support folks, it still took two full weeks for me to gain access to the account, and to pull the two step off.  Re-activation of the phone wasn't even needed.

I fully accept responsibility for accepting the two step verification.  What I don't accept is that Apple is putting in place a process that allows for only iOS devices to be trusted devices.  The fact that my iPhone was permitted to my only trusted device, and it became inoperable, is a big problem that Apple should review.  There are times when users/customers need to be protected from themselves, and this is one of those times. 

Additionally, Apple must find a way to provide the Senior Support folks better tools to clear this situation when it is obvious that the customer is valid, the device is not stolen, and Apple can be a hero by getting things working again.

Finally, this whole bad development came about because my iPhone suddenly went nuts and needed re-activating.  From my research, this has been a problem that goes back for years with various versions of iOS on different iPhones from the past.  Some have suggested that there is a problem between the carrier and Apple.  I am not smart enough to know, but I do know that it was hugely inconvenient to be without the phone for the two weeks while we were on vacation.  I have become very dependant on the phone and the associated apps, and felt that this deactivation problem is an old problem, that shouldn't still be a problem.  It led to exposing a faulty two step verification with no way to gain access to my account. 

I think that both of these issues need attention by the high-ups at Apple.