There isn't going to be a hardware upgrade at least not to the ip4, the ip5 probably. After the Conference today and other phones do it stuff, they aren't going to turn around and then say well we can fix it this way and then screw the 1st buyers and open themselves up to another lawsuit.
Sept 30 cut off, may be like one poster stated the end of their fiscal quater but also that gives all the preorder, july and the august buyers enough time with their phone and for the late buyer to get them(this gives the white ip4 enough time to sale). October 1 is pretty much saying you've had plenty of time to know and hear about this issue and bought it anyway, we have bumpers for $29 or buy a case of your choice.