The VSP wasn't offered to make the overall number. Cost savings by shoveling money at it? No no no, the VSP wasn't for RIFing the general VZ population, it was offered as a means to get rid of the people who usually survive the RIFs but who they actually want off the payroll, the older emoloyees. If it were just for nailing some quantity of regular folks then that would be the normal package.
See, it doesn't matter if they got their overall number from the VSP, that's not its purpose. In fact, if they did meet their overall number with the VSP then they means they've truly failed and overspent wildly. What really matters to Them is that the VSP took enough older folks. So long as they've met that goal then the real cuts may commence. VSP was just an opening salvo aimed at the high-value targets, people they can't otherwise gun for. Next will be a general m---acre, pobably Sprint-style with a reduction in the standard package and then major headcount cuts.
Don't forget that the end goal here is enough fiber assets to run a few wireless companies, towers and microcells installed and maintained by contractors, end consumer equipment logistics, some internal systems they can't outsource, contacted end user "support", and little else. Will they actually get there? Very unlikely, but if you're not somebody with a VZ badge in the end game scenario above then expect a really bumpy ride.
Oh, and to everybody who volunteered and then rescinded, your manager knows who you are and thusly knows who's loyal for the long haul, and who isn't. Congratulations, you've just been thrown into RIF Thunderdome with a blown-out knee.
Good luck, y'all gonna need it.
Precise and truthful observations on the real purpose of VSP were given by @WdBEd0u-xwh in this post.