I seriously think everyone here, although based on first hand knowledge, under estimating this issue in a big way and here is why...
I camped for around 9 hours, number twenty ish in line and spent the evening trying to decide not only which color I like best but if I were worried about the black finish. When asked, some what suddenly, which color I chose black. It is an extremely striking piece of material and I figured it's Apple and they put the customers experience above all else.
My phone was activated in the sealed box and I left the store and made the drive home (about 45 minutes). When I got home and opened my phone I most initially noticed a chip in the plastic that sits between the glass and the metal edge and so my issues began. My phone at the antenna barriers was almost completely silver as if someone had lightly rubbed with the softest material until the black faded. Upon further inspection the small nicks on the edges were everywhere.
So I call an Apple store that is closer to me but not the one I originally purchased from and explained my situation. "Dude that is terrible luck get in here and we will get you taken care of". So I get to the Apple store and the employees helping me instantly exchange my phone and offer many apologies and if only it ended there....
The first NIN DOA phone had the same band "fading" and even more nicks. So we walk to the displays and holy moly of not everyone of the 10 black on display had an issue!!!! They were completely shocked and even started checking their personal phones for damages. Upon seeing that they had "perfect" phones they brought out the last two models they had in stock. The next one we opened faired the same and was refused by the Apple employee. The final and last 32gb black I'm the store had just ONE nick and very slight fading at the antenna gaps. I decided to take the phone and think over the situation myself.
The point is either QC is super low or these phones are near impossible to manufacture without defect. I don't think this is an OCD MacRumors issue this is a product wide manufacturing issue.
With that being said I have always loved white and black iPhones but this black iPhone is just ridiculous. It is so incredible to look at and I plan to read the AppleCare + agreement, confirm it covers cosmetic damage and enjoy my beautiful naked black iPhone until the scratches bother me enough to spend $50 for a new phone.
It is a shame to have to do this and I agree we shouldn't have to. Although I am a huge Apple fan I did just come from a Galaxy S 3 and with that being said this is the first product I have owned that is so magnificent that I feel like I can make sacrifices just to be able to have this model/ color.
