the main problem here is that users don't take 2FA seriously. they quickly put the token on their main phone without backing it up anywhere, then they cry when they lose their phone. one should always have tokens backed up on multiple devices, and written down on a piece of paper as well.
It shouldn't matter if someone gets access to your smartphone and the 2FA app, since it's only one of two factors. Your password shouldn't be stored on your phone. For instance, if you trade from a mobile app while using the same phone for 2FA, arguably you don't have the security of 2FA because a thief might only need your phone to drain your accounts. The saying with 2FA is "something you know, something you have." Naturally, if you shift everything to "something you have" then you are insecure.
But on the topic of WEX, obviously the old BTC-e tokens don't work and they have had to setup 2FA again.
I never had an account on WEX but I checked my account on BTC-E.nz. They required my original 2FA in order to reset the token. Wasn't it the same for WEX? I thought they said they were transferring all the login data including 2FA.
Quote
maybe you could try selling the account on the digital goods subforum ... maybe a non-US person would be willing to verify. but you'd have to take a big pay cut. 
if I submitted my first/last name to btc-e years ago when I made the account, will wex not have that? was assuming I couldn't do the above because of names needing to match?
Check the profile on your account. Does it list your name? They said before the launch that all identity data was destroyed (doesn't really make sense, but allows people who can't verify a chance to get out).