They don't need the VPN logs, they can get the info directly from your ISP, and yes, even despite the VPN. My brother in law is a LEO and a Senior Investigator in his Department's cyber crime unit. He tells me VPNs do not hide your activity or addresses you visit from your ISP, that they really only obscure your IP address from sites you visit.
This was explained to me here by the smart person Shadowace awhile back. I have my own VPN server set up using OpenVPN through a static IP service and I found out it’s still not enough.
Agree, as in when you turn off location on your mobile device they can still triangulate where you are using cell tower you latched to as well as the info pack about your device including MAC address. When you register your device it obtains the IMEI International Mobile Equipment Identity as part of the process.
I have also looked into the DNS aspect of the whole process and at the end of the day becoming truly “invisible” is impossible.
Incorrect if your VPN provider is using the best VPN protocols, i.e. OpenVPN. When such a VPN connection is operating, the traffic sent between you and the VPN Server is encrypted. Your ISP will not be able to see in plain text what you are doing online -- the web sites you visit or any data exchanged.
that they really only obscure your IP address from sites you visit.
this is true.