With the verge interviewing matias duarte on the 14th, those armorsuit militaryshield screen protectors coming out on the 18th (from the USA amazon.com) and the previous rumors I think the 17th is the date we should still be hoping for. At least I am. I am also inclined to believe that since Verizon has been barred from bloating up this phone they have VERY VERY little interest in it and want to 'sweep it under the rug' as much as possible, hence holding back the date. I am also inclined to believe what someone said about the release date being announce after the RAZR releases this Friday. Would seem to me they just want to honor a contractual obligation to sell the phone, don't want to give it any [true] marketing effort what so ever.
Also I have worked retail for 4 years now. I know what to look at in a communication. The schedule that leaked that showed the 'Samsung Holiday Portfolio feat. Galaxy Nexus' Was a marketing schedule. Companies often get product and sell it before they get marketing material.
I believe Steven's source was the one that originally said the 17th then we saw that leak indicating a 17th release day so that lends some creditability because I don't know about anyone else but the first time I saw the 17th mentioned as a date was when the source spoke through Steven. Then we saw that leak that mentioned the 17th. Everything else so far (MAP, the leaked image that said the 17th) looked like release info, not marketing info, to my eyes.
Maybe they have some contractual obligation to at least do a minimum amount of marketing for the GNex and are holding out on doing so till the 28th after Black Friday, after everyone has already spent money.
I would also not be surprised if its similar to how the carrier stores treat windows phone (as we have heard reports that if people ask about WP7 the sales associates actually tell you not to get a windows phone and steer people away) I wouldn't be surprised if they question "oh you are sure you want the Nexus? You should get the Razr/Rezound. They are WAY better." "No I want the nexus for sure." If not against the nexus I am sure communication will indicate they need to generally push people towards the RAZR/Rezound as a starting point.
