Need for Speed Racing Games

I've had the same problem as these posters:
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/339686.page#3239730
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/339969.page#3242637
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/320735.page#3185878
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/333101.page#3184035
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/320735.page#3185878
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/345778.page#3299699
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/350840.page
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/15/334858.page
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/347292.page#3453528

System specs first, just so we're clear that the fault is not on my end:

Windows 7 64 bit with all the latest patches and updates installed
Core™ i7 920 Processor (4x 2.66GHz/8MB L3 Cache))
12 GB [2 GB X6] DDR3-1600 Triple Memory Module
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB - Single Card)
(ASUS P6T -- Intel X58 Chipset CrossFire and SLI Supported w/7.1 Sound, Triple-Channel DDR3, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, 3-Way SLI PCI-E MB - 3-Way SLI)

I downloaded and installed both patches, was solidly in the middle of level 37, just unlocked the NFS world tour with a works converted Lambo LP640 (that I had spent a fair amount of time in the paintshop with), properly exited the game last night, turned it on this morning and presto: the usual "start career" crap that everyone else has been getting. From browsing these forums, I tried the only thing that might work, which is to run the introductory races and try to purchase a car, but it said I had no open garage slots. Of course, this is incorrect as I only had three cars in my garage (Zonda R, Works LP640 and the Supra). Now, since I'm at that screen where you HAVE to purchase a car and you can't quit or go backwards, my machine was locked.

From reading all of the other complaints about this, it doesn't look like EA responds that much on the forums, so I guess I'm just another drop in the bucket. But still, here's my post. I'll be bumping all of the other threads about this glitch that I can, because this sort of error is something I'd expect from games published ten years ago by a couple of guys in a dorm room, not from a well-funded, professional outfit like EA in 2010. To not offer any patches or solutions is awful customer support, and if this isn't addressed I'm never going to purchase a NFS game again.

Gran Turismo 5, here I come....

Although GT also have some bug, but all of them are minor bug, and I do enjoy having fun on those bug!!But how about NFS? I'm going to have shift in my home and EA MUST FIX THE BUG ASAP,WE ARE ALL FED UP WITH STUPID ANSWERS GIVEN BY EA!! You don't want to fix the gulith? OK!! WE REQUEST FOR FULL REFUND!!AND USE ALL THOSE FOR GT5!

BUMP!