Yes...relative to what other top end flagship devices of this caliber have sold for from competitors (Verizon especially), it seems like the price point on these is designed to move. Giving them away is just hyperbole, don't over read into it.
Especially when you take into consideration the discounts that are coming out from 3rd party sellers at Pre-Order, well, it's quite stunning, actually. I don't know what Sprint pays for the device. But what I do know is it seems Sprint is using the EVO as a hail mary to keep OG EVO customers. And they need them to stay to make their cash flow projections. So, it all makes sense. I just am surprised the discounts are starting out the gate. Heck, even before the gate opens.
As for the number of LTE sites and when they are coming online, that pretty much is a known commodity around here. We talk about it all the time. However, Sprint is not selling their LTE network to any one really. They don't push LTE marketing much at all. They are mostly just marketing the devices at this time. Sprint is just trying to master under promise, over deliver.
If customers are assuming they are going to have ubiquitous LTE coverage as soon as they get their device, then that is counter to what Sprint has said publicly over and over again. And given the blunders of WiMax deployment, I think that most customers are cautious and pessimistic about LTE deployment, and not given to grand visions of wall to wall LTE coverage when they activate their new EVO's. Or even soon. Unless, perhaps, if they live in a market with active NV deployment. And then they won't be disappointed for long.
If Sprint is leaking info to us covertly, which I doubt, but if they are, it is rather genius. To give information through a third party to help coimmunicate to customers what is going on and help build excitement, but still giving themselves breathing room in case there are delays...well, it's a very smart idea. However, I'm not sure I would ever give Sprint quite that much credit to pull it off.
Robert