Keep this in mind while reading the below: A new build costs ~$500,000 (under/over deploying equipment costs even more). It pays to get the best performance up front. Mod projects cost less, but rework adds up fast. Don't forget about rent at the site locations, too (landlord/tower vendor).
Seeing the number of layoffs of the cell site designers, VZ's higher up managers evidently never learned the lessons from riding in POS cars from American car companies in the 1970's and 80's. During that time Toyota put in the work up front to provide quality cars. Now Toyota is eating the other car makers' lunches. Maybe the higher ups grew up getting new cars every few years, so they never experienced constantly breaking down in American cars and not being able to afford better.
Customer service on the front end was put on the backburner. Now, network design will take a backseat, too. Poorly performing areas will continue to perform poorly.
Let's ignore a lesson of the auto industry (long term quality does matter). All cars are essentially the same, so no stopping of the production line, and the design just has to be good'nuff, it is ok to have acres and acres of new cars needing rework before going to the dealers. Following that model, it is ok if we waste design money, need lots of rework, and delay needed capacity and coverage solutions due to all of the coming rework and poor location choices.
VZ is going the way of Chrysler - All in the name of giving more money to less people, regardless of the fact there is plenty for all.