If verizon can unlock the gps on the storm they can unlock it for the curve and other gps phones. I believe they have only unlocked it for the storm in order to sell more storms.
I have three apps on my blackberry Curve that verizon does not offer. The only way for me to use them is by buying an external gps even though my curve already has one.
Verizon, use some common sense and listen to your customers.