They should wave the activation fee, but you'll be paying aroud 250 after taxes
Go to radio shack they have the GSIII for 150, which will turn out to be about 200 bucks even...just did it yesterday at the shack!
What type of headsets are you using. This sounds like the headset is malfunctioning. Most new bluetooth headsets have an "active" noise canceling function. It could be the headset your using and or the area you are testing them in.