Help! Cant activate iPhone

Well I got it unlocked on my wife computer. The iphone activation toolkit hack worked there and I can sync with her computer. But I can't do it with mine. Which is driving me crazy. It keeps saying Preparing...failed

I did in fact sign up for a go phone account but can't afford to put any money on it right now. My card is maxed, even though I gave them my card info and they tried to bill once. I don't see any option to just use it as an iPod for right now. iTunes just keeps telling me to put money into my account when I hook it up to my computer.

Why is Apple so persistent on making you have money on an account before you can use the iPhone for anything? Having an account alone should be good enough to at least use it as just an iPod.