I don't think they're actually tied together, it's simply that the iPhone requires an O2 SIM.
e.g Someone could sell their 3G, keep their SIM, then buy a PAYG 3GS and put their original SIM in that. The person who bought the 3G could then put their own contract or PAYG SIM in it, so long as it was an O2 SIM.
http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/paymonth.html
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Originally Posted by O2
Upgrading to the new iPhone 3G S
Existing Pay Monthly customers have the following options for upgrading
to iPhone 3G S:
Option 2 - purchase the iPhone 3G S on Pay & Go from 19 June. You can give your existing iPhone 3G to someone you know.
Pay Monthly customers can place their existing iPhone 3G sim card into the iPhone 3G S and receive all the latest functionality. Customers must continue to pay for their existing Pay Monthly tariff.
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I can't see any reason why CPW/O2 would pay off the rest of someone's contract - the 3G was subsidised, and the 3GS is subsidised. Paying off someone's contract, or letting them off early, means losing money.