Yes, for sure the whole preorder, prepay models that abound at the moment are creating huge confusion for customers. It seems to be largely pushed first by the producers, then followed up by carriers, leaving the carriers, and finally the stores, to hold the boat a float as customers start flowing forward.
Meowmix has done an excellent job each time at explaining how each preorder model works, and what you can and cannot expect and keeping those up to date.
It is similiar to a software I bought recently - I preordered and paid in advance, only because it gave me access to a 6000 member beta testing program, so it gave me early access to the software and the chance to influence what would come. But other customers who did not go the beta route (it was a limited specific group who could enrol for beta anyway), are screaming like crazy, and the answer they are getting, is, but you know, when you peordered, you got 10.00 off the upgrade price when it comes out finally, and an even better price if buying new without upgrade - that is true, but the beta has taken 4 months longer than expected, and these people are sitting with paid for software wondering when they will ever get it, and beta testers are dropping off like flies, because they are just getting tired, and the old software has been retired due to a major change in functionality that the old one is not supported anymore and all their efforts are on trying to meet the third drop dead date.
So, I have generally stayed away from preordering - any freebies, or slight discounts, I have generally found to not be worth the frustration, but to each their own. Hope everybody gets their devices soon.
And as for the comment about old devices, I have a few BB devices still kicking around, but I run my devices for 5 years generally, unless I break them, and I have the tech skills to order parts on ebay and fix them with ease. And great thing is that I always have a working device as a backup.
I seem like an oddity to some, but I don't think I am fully a dying breed.
Heres to the new devices, whatever it is that they do that my current ones don't do. Do enjoy and may they come soon.
Bruce
