By opting for a partnership with Altice USA over a merger with T-Mobile US, Sprint has missed the opportunity to access top quality mobile network infrastructure and a successfully disruptive company ethos – instead choosing a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) deal which will do little to help the US telco’s case in chasing down AT&T and Verizon. Yet the two respective Sprint and T-Mobile CEOs have not burned all bridges; sowing the seed for a possible merger reincarnation in the future. Sprint has struck similar cable partnerships in the past which did not end well. This week’s progressions, from a potential third-placed US mobile giant to cable MVNO, echo similarities to the Pivot venture between Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner…