2. There are manufacturers who replace defective wallets only if you send them the defective wallet first.
~Snipped~
- What happens if you discovered it is defective AFTER you set it up with your seed, and cannot wipe/reset it?
If you really have to send the defective HW back, just get a hammer and beat the crap out of it
[e.g. like this or this] and as a finishing touch, use a microwave
[be careful].
I have a better idea: rip out the circuit board and put it on an electric stove (outside) until all the solder melts (don't worry if you overdo it and burn the PCB a little in the process) and remove them. Then put the circuit board back in and reassemble.
If you can spot it, make sure to remove any memory chips in particular, as well as microcontroller and secure chip (if it has any).
It is possible to rip a memory chip off an otherwise (from outside look) destroyed hardware wallet, solder it into a new hardware wallet of same make & model and restore funds. Not on all of them, granted.