[*]Apple selected the thinner design with a 1472x828 display, two-layer backlight, protruding camera, Gorilla Glass, and a 1810mAh battery over the slightly thicker design with a 1704x960 display, one-layer backlight, thinner bezel, flush camera, larger battery, and sapphire glass.[/list]
Technical and QA/QC issues were apparently behind the decision. For example, the last minute change from one-layer to two-layer backlighting required a change in display to a different panel with a lower resolution, and use of that panel also required a larger bezel.
If what you said is true (we'll see tuesday), i will stay with my iPhone 5S for another year...