The plans used to be replacement when best buy had no program in place to do rapid exchange for the refurbished consoles. They were still service plans, they just had no service option at the time. It is true that after the third refurbished console breaks, and a fourth is needed, you would get a replacement off the shelf. This is Best Buy's no lemon policy, and has nothing to do with Sony as you have found out. You paid for a service plan and hopefully this console arrives fully functional. If not, I would have them immediately rapid exchange again. You have a 30 day warranty on the re consoles, so if it goes out within that, even if you are out of warranty, you could have it rapid exchanged again.