My gut reaction is this is bad. But sometimes (ok, very rarely) such things result in better quality control/shipping/inventory/etc.
Still, maybe its time for me to schedule an appointment with an audiologist.
Now I kind of want one of these
fkclo over at the 'fi said he preferred it to his Dac3. And its ~$500 less than the Dac3 street price
They have a pricier version, the ijazz, "available now" as well.