I saw the same thing. Basically all the "hot" phones are still the same price but you have to do the $100 debit card (I had to do this last time I got a smart phone and got the debit card in 4 weeks which isn't bad) instead of an instant rebate. If this is true I will probably go into a store and get my next smart phone since you have to do the rebate versus getting it online versus in store.
I bought my Eris almost a year ago and there was no "instant" rebate. I got a $100 gift card after sending in the receipt, UPC from box, etc, etc. I *think* I may gotten a discount for buying online... My wife, the impatient one, had to get her phone in the store. She didn't get the discount but it qualified for the same $100 gift card "rebate".That was what I got a year ago as well.