I guess I'll bring it in -- although I don't really like the idea of paying for new and winding up with a refurb.
You'll never know for sure, of course, but I think it's worth noting that many "refurbs" - especially the ones sold directly by Apple are in fact for all practical purposes "new" units.
Once a product box has been opened and the product is then returned by a consumer, it cannot be resold as "new" by law - even if it was never turned on and used. And so, e.g., gifted, but unwanted or unneeded iPads may be the route by which Apple gets many.
Also, the refurbishment certification process means that a refurb unit's actually had more hand inspection and testing than one on the factory line. And unless someone can tell me differently, I'm assuming Apple wouldn't sell a refurb (or offer one as a replacement unit) that was not cosmetically as well as functionally in "Apple pie order."
I know I've never specifically heard an Apple-sold refurb horror story. Does anybody here have one?
So, moving on and now just speculating, but it's well within the realm of possibility that if Apple ends up with units that do have tiny dings or somesuch imperfections they may off-load to them other re-sellers of used and "refurbed to their own standards" Apple goods as "seconds."
(PS: I'm not asserting that some sellers don't break that opened-box law. I've taken products home from retailers bought as new and on examination it's clear they've been re-wrapped. Best Buy comes to mind. But I feel reasonably sure Apple - to protect its rep if for no other reason, and because it can well afford to - plays by the "if it's been opened it's not new" rules.)
PPS: Count me also in the camp that never buys a brand new release of any complicated product, whether it's a car or a computer, i.e., I always wait a bit for any production line, early part runs and firmware/OS bugs to be worked out. And since I'm in a holding pattern just now, I might not mind waiting to save a Ben Frank until there are some 64GB LTE refurbs in the store. We'll see in a few weeks.