Everything I was told here has been proven to be completely false. First, I was granted a non-B visa from abroad with no problem. Immigration said my ED visa was expired while I was out of the country and when I left the country without a reentry permit, that visa was essentially null and void. I was under no obligation to cancel it before I left. I did get a sense that *might* not be true for everyone, but I didn't inquire.
I now have a one year extension with a multiple entry permit on a non-B visa based on my work permit and I did my first 90 day notification, all without fines or problems. I thought it was important to clarify this here in case someone reads it in the future.