Does anyone know what eventually happens to credit cards that are issued but never activated?

Here's why I ask.

A few months ago, after my name change after I got married was fully done and legal with government offices, I started calling various places I deal with to change my name with them as well, among them, my credit card companies. Both of the credit cards I have has my signature and my photo printed on the front of the card. I love those features, for obvious reasons. One of the credit card company was smart. They just sent me a form to sign so they had my new signature on file, and said that my photo stays the same. DUH! The other one, however, wasn't so smart. At first they send me a form to sign saying a new photo wasn't necessary and they just wanted my new sig on file. So I signed the paper and mailed it back. A few weeks go by, I get another letter in the mail from them saying they couldn't process my request because my request lacked my photo. WTF? I thought so I called the credit card company and explained the situation. It was so stupid that it even made the rep on the phone laugh the minute I told him the contradiction. So he looked it up and said, "yeah it looks like we will need a new photo from you because once you make a change like that such as your name, your photo gets deleted from our files."

"Um, well ok," I said. "Can you guys just issue me a new card with my new name on it without the picture, then?"

I didn't want to bother with the picture because I never use the card anyways, it's only for emergencies.

"Sure!" the rep says and tells me that a new card should be on its way in a few days.

Great! I thought to myself. That's taken care of and I'll just send in my pic at a later time if I'm ever so inclined to do it.

Indeed a few days later my new card arrives. It has my new name imprinted on it, BUT it has my OLD sig and picture on it. WTF? Mind you, I've already sent in the form I signed with my NEW sig so they should have that on file. And if they can print a new card with my new name and my old pic on file, why the hell can't they just change out the sig like the other credit card company? Obviously my pic is still on file contrary to what the rep said. Bah, I'll call them some other time, I just won't activate the card. I didn't want to deal with it at the time. Then a few days later, 2 more of the SAME card arrives all with my new name, old sig, and pic on it. /face palm Can we get dumber? How friggin hard is it to change the name?

Does anything happen to the cards, number assigned to the card, or the account if the cards issued is not activated?