12:40 PM -- Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)'s Long Term Evolution (LTE) iPad launch attracted only a modest crowd on this crisp Chicago morning. But those that did line up -- starting at 7 p.m. Thursday night -- weren't in it for the 4G.

In fact, most seemed more excited about their color choice for the device than the network it'd run on.

As one line-waiter, Jason, told Light Reading Mobile, "I didn't even do any research. I just knew I had to get the new iPad!"

He, like a lot of the others in line, let Apple employees sway his carrier decision. Jason originally went with AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) based on the HSPA+ fall-back speeds, but switched to Verizon Wireless when he realized AT&T wouldn't have hot spot functionality enabled out the gate.

The hot spot was the deciding factor for a lot of the consumers we spoke with. Surprisingly, no one in our small survey said they were pumped for the fast LTE speeds. Most said if they traveled, they needed wireless, and were loyal to a carrier already.

Many also expressed concern about the data caps and expensive monthly plans for LTE.

Click on the image below to launch a short slide show of the scenes at Chicago's "significant" Apple store in Lincoln Park.



For more

• Apple's New LTE iPad Draws Crowds in NYC
• iPad: No 4G Switcheroo for You!
• New iPad Brews LTE Signaling Storm
• New iPad Ushers in LTE Era
• Apple Shaves Margins for LTE in New iPad
• Apple Intros First 4G LTE iPad

— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile