Can't wait to put this worst-rumor-season-in-history in the past!
The sourced rumors were actually pretty accurate. It was people who wanted, or did not want, some feature added or removed or modified that were all over the place. Things didn't get locked down until late July-as far as features- but that was shortly after the phones themselves had to have started low volume production, on their way to high mass production after everything seemed to be ok. And even before then the size, rough features, and cost was pretty much in agreement from numerous sources.
The items that have and will cause controversy, the lack of a physical home button/fingerprint reader, the notch on the screen, the color selection, and last but not least, the cost were all in the news for up to 4 months now. People, sometimes including myself, have reacted strongly and usually in a negative way because when it comes right down to it, people are resistant as hell to change. But companies that don't change don't stay on top. So every phone, every year is a balancing act. Change enough to seem edgy, but not too edgy. We really won't know for a while how successful this years phone is, even if it sets initial sales records. Which, given its cost, it will set a money income record even if it doesn't set a units sold one.