Lock and Load. Or Unlocked?

Looking to replace my old C3 since "that other company" will be completely shutting down their 2G GSM network at the end of the year. Looking around at various stores, providers, online sellers, etc. for a cheap replacement (don't need/want a Smart phone at all).

Telus's page shows a few candidates, the cheapest being the ZTE Cymbal 2 ...
"Prepaid"
"$85 Upfront"
"No term pricing (1)"
"Retail price $85"
" (1)Taxes and pay-per-use charges (including long distance, roaming and additional airtime or data) are extra."

Does that mean this phone (and the other prepaid models) are completely unlocked? Not so-many-months of plan required before releasing into the wild? I could just walk in, buy one, stick in my SIM from "that other company" and start yakking? Or is there some hidden fine print on page 6325 of the "Quick Start Guide"?

Bestbuy also shows the ZTE, as well as the somewhat similar Coolpad Snap.
For Koodo, it's 79.95, for Telus it's 89.95.
Odd... Same phone, same specs.

Maybe Telus is just greedier (than its alter-ego that they make wear a different colour shirt so people won't realize they're the same person)?