Ive said this before and Ill say it again. Im not someone that likes to buy anything that someone else has used. I dont shop at Goodwill, I dont buy demo/scratch and dent anything, I HATE buying shoes that someone else has tried on. There have been a number of times I didnt not buy a pair of shoes I wanted simply because they had been tried on and the store didnt have any more in my size. How is that for picky?
But with a refurb Apple product, of which Ive bought many, these items are restored to, IMO, brand new condition. Who cares if someone handled it before?? I dont know what their refurb process is, but Ive NEVER gotten a refurb product from them with any markings or signs of usage of any kind on the outer case.
Ill continue to buy Apple refurbs and save some cash. If you want to spend extra and buy new because you think its better in some way, fine by me. Ill just never understand it.
And yes, there are plenty of refurb threads about iPhones here if people will just take time to search instead of starting a new one.