I have to agree with you on this. I'm certain there are many people who wouldn't notice or care about half the minor imperfections had they not read this forum first. It's because many people here believe they're entitled to an ultra perfect machine, that those who didn't receive one that matches those who return their MBP ten times feel like they're getting left out.
Second, there are too many threads of people thinking they are entitled to get brand new upgraded laptops for their 2 year old deadbeat laptops. That kind of behavior seems to be encouraged here, and while I'm all for good customer service, it's almost as if people have become conditioned to be unsatisfied with a repair or a replacement of the same system.
Success stories and happy endings are wonderful, but the very small minority posting here that they've received brand new upgraded systems for their old systems seems to be driving the mentality that this is a common practice for Apple. Apple may be generous, but this type of thinking that seems to be spreading through these forums really hurts Apple in the long run. It seems Apple has been too generous and we're approaching a time when repairs or replacements aren't good enough and people are beginning to demand upgraded replacements for their broken fans. People who were once satisfied with just a replacement/repair, all of a sudden feel shortchanged when they see someone who had a more minor problem come out with a shiny new upgraded system.
I think macrumors is a great community of mac owners, but as a forum that is home to many hundreds of thousands of visitors (if not millions), it will only hurt Apple (and their customers) in the long run if this sense of entitlement is not dialed down a bit.
/end rant
