I have never had Virgin Mobile service, so I can't help you there.
An embedded battery is one that is not easily removed, unlike the batteries the majority of cell phones currently use. An embedded battery does have some advantages, such as making the phone slimmer (potentially) but also has a big downside (IMO) in that it can't be easily replaced by the average owner. With the improved battery technology today, I don't carry spare batteries as I used to do...and even more so, since I am retired I don't use my phone as heavily as I once did.
The only HTC phone I have had was the Evo...it was a good phone, but not great, IMO. My wife still has one and likes it. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy III S, and really like it. In fact, I think Samsung phones are the best phones...at least for me, and I've tried many brands and models.
