Here's the test you should perform - find the two makes/models of phones
_you_ think you would like.  Take every factor of its design and
construction into consideration.  Research them to the point you feel
comfortable.

Now, go to your Verizon store and get your first choice.   During 14-day
trial period, make it your primary phone.   Use it like your life depends
on it.   Make calls and receive calls as much as possible.   See how it
sounds and how other people react to the quality of the call when you call
them.  If every aspect of the functions _you_ plan to use (phone, camera,
bluetooth, whatever) work perfectly for you, then that is the phone for
you.   If not, last I checked, VZW gives you the chance to make one more
change during that 14-day trial.   Go with your backup and do the same.

Bottom line - no matter what _anyone_ says about any phone/provider, the
answer is in how well it works for _you_ in _your_ neck of the woods and
_your_ lifestyle.   You can have the top-of-the-line Motorola phone not
work well for you, but a cheaper Motorola or LG phone be perfect.

Consider people's comments, but don't live by them.  Pretty much ignore
any VZW sales person's comments (their goal is to sell, sell, sell).  
Rely on your _own_ experiences and judgement.

Unfortunately, that's still the best way to decide.   If you have friends
who also have newer VZW phones, see if you can borrow one or more and
check them out.   It is a free and great way to put it through a test run.  
Ask your friend what they think of the model they have and the features
that work well, and stink, for them.

Good luck.

Scott

Well avoid the VX3300, as the sound quality is horrible.  The VX5200 isn't
too bad, but it is for RIGHT-handed people only.  -Dave

My criteria for chosing a new phone were the same as yours and I went with
the e815.  My sister got one first (on the east coast) and used it for about
a month before I got mine (west coast).  She confirmed the reviews with
regard to dramatically better reception and voice quality so I got one, too.
I previously had a VX4500 which had poor battery life, poor voice quality
and reception so bad that I couldn't reliably make a call from anywhere in
my home.  With the e815 I can make calls in my home and not worry about them
dropping.  It takes three days of use for the battery to drop one bar.  Some
folks talk about an echo problem - I've only experienced this a couple of
times and that was in very poor reception areas (either my location or the
caller's location).  I also got a USB cable (Ebay) for the phone so I can
sync contacts and calendar events with Outlook.  This feature works great
(you can do it with bluetooth also if you have a BT dongle for the computer,
but this was harder for me to get working than the USB connection).  The
e815 has an extendable antenna, but it doesn't seem to make much
difference - reception seems just as good if I don't pull it out.  The
screen is big and bright.  This is by far the best cell phone I've owned.
Of course, YMMV so take advantage of the test drive period.  Good luck!