I was able to get it without having to place a pre-order for it by purchasing it the day before at one of the locations of a well-known computer distribution network. I had placed an online reservation for it early in the morning and received it about midnight. Apparently, I just got lucky, since after going to five or six different "M" stores and a few others during the day, I was certain that "today is not my day!", but it turns out that I was wrong. On the other hand, I've discovered that it happens to me as well. The majority of the time, expectations were met or exceeded. It's really too bad about that.