If you haven't done so already, tell them to send you the plastic printed card instead of the electronic security device. Then copy the plastic card to your smartphone as an encrypted image, and you never have to worry about losing the electronic card, or not having it with you.
I didnt see an option for a plastic card, i did save the previous printed card as an encrypted image on my phone though but the plastic card thing you mentioned is basically the same thing as the type you print and thats permanent? Thats kind of weird.
i'm sure they didn't even see the problem with locking someone out of their account xD
Sorry you missed the repeated notices, but IB's been doing this ('starter' codes, then live-account codes) for a dozen years that I know of, exactly the same way. There are multiple points where notice was given to you.