What's up with data usage on the iPad over LTE?

Question

I am using the new iPad. This is not my first as I have had an ipad since version 1 (at first with a VZ Mifi, though now I have the one with LTE). When I first set up this iPad i did it on a prepaid account and so I have a baseline of experience (both with the mifi and with built in cellular) that is nothing like what I have experienced recently.
When I first activated, I averaged 1GB of data use. I activated on prepaid as I thought I might actually turn it off once in a while and I didnt want to have to go through VZ to do that - I don't have an hour+ to waste in store every time i want to do something with my devices. I later decided (silly me) I was not ever going to turn off the data, so why not put it on my regular plan.  The real rub here is my data usage still didnt change. I leave both radios (wifi and cell) on all the time. So when I am home, I am wifi, when i am out, I use cell.
The odd thing here is, since LTE has come to town, my usage has tripled. Now, some of this is because I have once or twice watched a movie or streamed some audio. But as this has happened only once or twice in a month, it does not explain lump data charges of 500-1,000mb charges hitting my device 5-6 times in a month. Consider this timeline:
On Saturday afternoon, I decided to use the NFL app to listen to an audio broadcast of the NE patriots game. I did so walking around town. I was easily streaming for 2 hours or more. According to VZW, the charge in data use for this (nearest to time) was at most 47mb.
Roll forward 2 days during which the two largest charges are 23mb and 13mb - I can even relate these charges to a couple apps I upgraded in that time frame and some podcasts that auto downloaded.
I see that at 3am on 9-18-12 I had data usage of 900mb. huh?
My wifi is always connected when I am at home
Even if, as some suggest on here, the wifi turns off when the device sleeps
There were no updates to be found
Movies don't download over Cell as they are over 50mb (though they will stream I think)
IOS does not allow podcasts or software updates over 50mb anyway so if it was either of those, it would have had to be like 30 of them!
I have a couple of theories:
Verizon charges for data as far as timing are way off. They really don't know WHEN data is being used. The system posts involve lags in update of data from towers. (server to server transmission, whatever)
There is a problem with LTE usage stats on Verizon. I am tempted to turn off LTE for a while to see if the usage goes down.
I don't want to turn off my cellular all the time as that defeats the usability of the thing. I just want it back the way it was and for these phantom charges to stop. There is nooooo way my ipad used 900mb overnight by itself. There just isn't that much data to be had to bring into the thing when I am not using it.
Please reply to this with answers only if you KNOW something. I know many will want to be helpful, but if you want to be really really helpful, you will differentiate speculation from fact.
Has anyone else noticed that LTE data usage is higher? (and not just because having faster speeds makes you want to do more stuff)

Answer 1

Sorry Tominique, great answer to the question I didnt ask. I know how to add data to my plan.
My point is, my usage pattern has changed little. yet I am using at a rate 5 times what I was before. And I rarely stream content so I know thats not it. And the times I do, does not coincide with those ridiculous usage figures.
I get that having more bandwidth will open a stream "wider" so to speak and cause more data usage in order to get better quality. However, in the case of Audio, that extra usage doesnt even come close to justifying these kinds of figures. Much less when posting at 4am when I am fast asleep.
And forgive me for being a bit curt, but does my post read like I needed to be told that using wifi will save me cell data usage? I know it was pretty long, but at least read it carefully before proposing something so mundanely simplistic.
And Brian68- Yup, I agree Spot on with you on song size. A 10mb song is a 10mb song. Doesn't matter how fast the stream is. I could see music being compressed, but it most definitely doesn't get any bits added just because the bandwidth opens up. lol What? VZW somehow upgraded my itunes match content from 256kb up to lossless? doubtful.