Yes, agreed. Also, after you receive the device, you can take it to an Apple Store within 14 days, and they can resell it to you under the IUP: I’ve done this with an iPhone that I bought unlocked at full price from Apple (one local store said they’d have to get a new phone from stock, but another store just returned and resold the same device without a hitch)
I've seen that, too, and don't understand why different Apple stores handle things like this differently. Maybe it's just different levels of training and awareness.