Having worked for Cox Communications in the past as a telephony tech, I know that a tech would not have randomly "ripped up" the other cabling(because they use the SAME WIRING). They install an interface box as close to existing telephone cabling as possible and then disconnect the leads from telco block and connect them to the interface they just installed. All cabling for the phones inside the house is THE EXACT SAME. They get paid per installation, which means they are not going to make the job more difficult. And no, they don't use proprietary phones. You say it was done while the previous owner was there, from experience I can tell you it was the customer not the tech that damaged the wiring.
You are correct about "home run" wiring being the best way to go. It saves alot of time and allows for a cleaner installation. Most cable companies don't allow their techs to run cable in the walls(for fear of the electrical wiring being installed incorrectly), so cabling must be run under carpet, along baseboards, along eves, or through the floor. All new construction should have home run wiring, unfortunately building contractors are cheap and often skimp on wiring.
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Having worked for Cox Communications in the past as a telephony tech, I know that a tech would not have randomly "ripped up" the other cabling(because they use the SAME WIRING). They install an interface box as close to existing telephone cabling as possible and then disconnect the leads from telco block and connect them to the interface they just installed. All cabling for the phones inside the house is THE EXACT SAME. They get paid per installation, which means they are not going to make the job more difficult. And no, they don't use proprietary phones. You say it was done while the previous owner was there, from experience I can tell you it was the customer not the tech that damaged the wiring. You are correct about "home run" wiring being the best way to go. It saves alot of time and allows for a cleaner installation. Most cable companies don't allow their techs to run cable in the walls(for fear of the electrical wiring being installed incorrectly), so cabling must be run under carpet, along baseboards, along eves, or through the floor. All new construction should have home run wiring, unfortunately building contractors are cheap and often skimp on wiring.