Just sign up for the Verizon plan from the cellular data menu on the device. No talking to anyone, no visiting Verizon store, no negotiating. Supports tethering. 2GB/2months, way more than enough for messaging and web browsing. Probably not enough for streaming video (I don’t do this, you can pay more for more data if you want). As the sibling comment mentioned other carriers have similar or better deals for tablets.

The “catch” is that there are no voice minutes and you have to carry a tablet instead of a phone. This is apparently enough of a burden that people don’t take them up on it. If you can live with those constraints (it is definitely doable) then it is a fantastic price.

I pay $10 per month for my iPad cellular through T-Mobile — signed up directly during the setup of the new iPad.