This isn't just AT&T. It's been this way for a long time. Retailer Flex Policy. If you buy a device (even full price) from BB, the carrier of the sim it's activated with, is sim locked to it in the beginning.

US Reseller Flex Policy

Not familiar with that process. I've always used the Apple Support app to place replacement orders.

You've checked under your Apple account under Orders to see if it's there?

I think maybe you got a bad rep who was playing on your panic and was just trying to shove the responsibility to your bank. It's normal for a transaction to show Pending until the payment clears. I have transactions that sit at pending for days sometimes before they clear. Did you get an order confirmation or anything when you placed your replacement order? What does your replacement order status say? Your order wouldn't have processed if the payment was not successful.

Transactions will show pending until the charge is finalized. This is pretty standard across any banking system. It can take 1-3 days for it to clear/finalize, especially if it's a hold charge. Doesn't mean the payment didn't go through. That's why it was deducted from your bank. Normally if it's a hold charge, it will finalize when your order ships.

Payment is showing pending where? On your Apple Replacement Order or with your bank?

If you think that's the only benefits to upgrading, you're delusional. Much has changed in 7 years.

I guess I meant if somehow the next ones are somehow physically different so previous gens won’t fit in the case.

Apple will be Apple.

Hopefully you can just buy the Type C case by itself and it work with the current 2nd gen Pro's. I'm not buying another set just to have a Type C charging case.

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Why give some stranger or thief access to your phone?

This is true. Without credit now days, you won’t get far anywhere