Your all Missing the Real Reason for the Factory Refurbished iMacs and the Delays.
Apple makes great Designed Computers and great Packaging, except for the New iMac. This is where the Packaging Design Team "Failed" sure it "LOOKS" good like all apple Packages. But the first time I saw it I knew that was a bad Design decision. A Pyramid ( /_\ ) is a Stable design even the Egyptians knew that. So what is wrong with the /_\, well Apple always has a reason. Make thing lighter, Packages smaller, allows you to increase the number of boxes you can transport for the same Price. So a /_\ means you take a iMac and put in on it't apex and you get \-/ great now you can get almost double the number of boxes in the same space great for the Bottom-line. "Bad idea", for a number of Reasons (the Egyptians didn't try it):
1: A pyramid on its axis has a Static problem all the weight is on the cutting edge, and the cutting edge is so cool and one of the main features of the iMac. It is not meant to carry the Weight of 10KG or 15KG (don't forget the Box, keyboard & Maus), its own weight but now with the Second layer which is now resting on the Apexes of the other boxes as well.So that actually might work except you don't want to transport one Layer that would be wasting the Place you are trying to gain.
No you make that 4 High so the the Pyramid at the bottom end up carrying the weight of 50 - 60Kg. Then you have to wrap the bottom so that they don't try to break out because of the weight from above you weaken a already unusable construction. You say put them on there Side, now you are on two Cutting edges and the Styrofoam gives no support.
So what probably happened is that there was a over propositional number of Damaged iMacs reaching US and European shores. So now you just replace the glass. Thats Cheep, UUUPS not with this design, you have to replace the screen. Now that is Expensive an all you were trying to save is down the drain. So when the rumors say that apple is having a problem with the yield in the display Production that is only half of the Truth. (Half thats good
. Sorry laughing at my unintentional joke) Because you now need twice as many displays, Those for the new Production, and those to replace the Broken ones. Now Replacing Broken glass can be a dangerous endeavor. And i guess that not all of them can be sold a New and so get sold as Refurbished.
So some of you will say, aaah Bull, I got my iMac it was okay
2: So Apple has to Redesign the Box or its innards (the Styrofoam) so that it can take the weight. Why would I say that. Well the First deliveries of iMacs hat the classic Brown cardboard box in Pyramid design as additional transport protection so that your Mac looks pristine and not all scratched. The later Deliveries (now) have a sightly larger external box with additional Foam inside. To Buffer the actual iMac Box. But the nail in my Argument is, have you lately been on apples web sight. Can you find a Picture of the Innovative designed Box which was mentioned at the KeyNote. There used to be a Picture at the bottom of the Tech Specks page its gone and the KeyNote stream as well.
3: UPS, TNT, DHL and all the Others, just love to Transport "Odd Shapes" because it bring in the Money. They charge extra for extra edges and in the case of iMacs they probably upped the Ands. Because extra risk of a Damaged goods.
So that would explain the Slow deliveries and the New Refurbished iMacs.
And if it was a different Problem you would hear a lot more from those that got theirs on the net.
4: Apple needs time to create a new box test it and then, Printing the Millions they will need. Mabe they can use the Old boxes as Furniture (
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/andrew-dusings-4110 )
Just my thoughts, but they have been stewing for a while. I have no insider information, but if the shoe fits :-D
sorry for Typos and the Rest.