[RTuesday]

Looks like Virgin Mobile now use Bell's HSPA network, which is interesting - a bit better coverage than CDMA in many areas (suh as Sask., and Atlantic Canada):
Coverage Maps - Virgin Mobile Canada

Even so, it asks me to "pick a phone" before picking one of the "broadband to go" plans. The modem devices are both HSPA+. I can't spot how to buy them other than as part of their "tab" system: 10% of the monthly bill applied to the cost of the device until it is paid for (in other words, a contract).

So, is there any way to get a true prepaid sim on Virgin Mobile Canada, and use the $10 a month data add-on? Could I just buy a cheap refurbished phone+sim from them ($30) and move the sim to an unlocked data stick I already have?

The broadband-to-go is a OK price, but it's basically an open-ended contract rather than prepaid.