GE RPWFE Refrigerator Water Filter

I'm so ANGRY that GE would use this marketing/sales 'Gimmick' to justify TRIPPING the price of a good water filter just to STOP ALL COMPETITION!!!! SHAMEFUL! I own a new GE Profile Series refrigerator. (PFE 28K..) We enjoy the in-door water and ice dispenser with auto sensing and the display showing the Ozs. fill and, AT FIRST, the 'Countdown' timer for water filter replacement. When the timer showed "Replace Water Filter" and "Days Remaining", I ASSUMED this was based on some quantifiable, diagnostic new feature built into the water filter.......... IT IS NOT !!!!!!!! Is the filter good? Yes, it is EXACTLY the same as the GE RPWF filter EXCEPT they put an RFID tag on the back!!! What benefit does the RFID tag provide? -Does it help the filter measure percent of filter contamination? NO, IT DOES NOT! -Perhaps it measures the pressure drop as the filter becomes more clogged, alerting the owner to the problem. NO, IT DOES NOT! -Does it show a potential failure of the filter media, alerting the owner? NO, IT DOES NOT! -How about leak detection, preventing water damage to the refrigerator? IT DOES NOT! Then WHY is the RFID tag on the back of each filter....????? FOUR reasons: 1-Run a SIMPLE countdown timer (worth about 50 cents), 2-Turns on the "OVERDUE" light, REGARDLESS of the level of TRUE contamination of the filter. 3-Uses filter 'Serial number' identification to STOP the CUSTOMER from simply removing the RFID tag from the back of an old filter using the tag for a 'Non-RFID' tagged filter and PREVENTS the CUSTOMER from saving money! 4-MAIN REASON get the customer to PAY M-U-C-H more for each filter than it is worth and buy filters ONLY from GE!!!! NO competition, a MONOPOLY! ----Imagine if the car companies did that! You could ONLY buy tires from your local dealer for your make and model of car! Is there a way around this SCAM? YES. 1-Locate the 'Blank' filter by-pass plastic piece sent with your GE Profile Series refrigerator (found this from another reviewer noting there was an RFDI tag on the back of the by-pass). 2-Locate the label "BACK This side must face inward" and peel it off. (see the picture) 3-Remove the RFID tag under the label. 4-Open the water filter housing cover inside the refrigerator. 5-Place the RFID tag over the 'FCC' label on the back inside the filter housing near the screw, hold in place by re-using the label you peeled off the 'Blank' filter by-pass. (see picture) NOW you can install ANY water filter compatible with GE RPWF (NOT 'E'), saving from $20 to $30+ each!! --NOTE: 1-This fix will turn OFF the countdown feature but WILL leave ON the Oz. fill and 'Auto-Fill' features. 2-The front panel will now show "NOT FILTERING" when you fill a container with water or ice (even though you installed a new filter). This additional insult to the CUSTOMER can be simply overridden by: A) Removing the two screws (inside the upper opening of the dispenser in the door) holding the display on the door. B) Removing the circuit board connectors C) Removing the Torx screws holding the circuit board to the display. D) Placing a small rectangular piece of black tape over the "NOT" word on the display. (See Picture) E) Reassemble. This 15 minute 'Scam Work Around' will save you from $20 to $30+ each time you replace the filter