Having been through this many times (as have many others on this forum), I have learned one simple truth: It is the vendor's goal (Apple, AT&T, Verizon, etc.) to get all these in peoples hands by 10/14, as promised. In order to do this, they frequently make special arrangements with Fedex to achieve that goal. The problem is that the reps (at Verizon, Fedex, etc.) don't all realize that and give the answer they are programmed to.
So, most will get the phone on Friday as promised. Some won't because of screwups inherent in any operation this large (they sold 1 million phones).
Not much more too it.