Well it's almost getting to the level of a "bait and switch" scheme... put an order in for a lower cost item but to actually take delivery you need to shift your config to something different which ends up costing more. I'm guessing it's not on purpose (I hope) but Tesla needs to get it's act together and stop ignoring how terrible the middle part of the order-to-delivery process is at least for customers who have been delayed over and over with no explanation.
I think we've been rooting for each other through this whole thing.
From my periphery vantage point the app is simply software with maybe not as much human input as we would like to think. Do humans update the app or does the app update the app? To me it appears the "system" makes the changes depending on where cars are needed and where they are moved. Cars get designated to locations based on what the systems thinks is best.
There may be some centrally focused human intervention at the top, but after that Mr. Roboto takes over. Comparing this to any automated delivery system. With Amazon the system takes products ALREADY made usually and moves them around. At Tesla the system is also trying to guestimate times around production output.
One thing I have taken note of- Most initial estimates are far far too optimistic. The system seems to be narrowing the dates over time. By the time it finally begins to get the calcualtions right you might have been through several revisions.
When you buy a Tesla you often can't plan around it too far into the future. Planning vacations and business trips around very specific expectations are probably not wise. Low expectations into the more distant future is probably the best plan of attack. High expectations into the near future are not.
We once thought getting a VIN was a good sign, but as we have seen, not even a VIN is an absolute guarantee a car is coming soon. Really that text or email informing us to come pick up the car is best.
I am optimistic though that both new and later orders will begin to close through better delivery windows. This is because I believe we are maybe seeing a slight drop in orders.
If nothing else the lower prices in Jan temporarily held off the flippers who were selling at 2022 prices and clogging the chain for the rest of us. One can only hope they don't show up again thinking these prices are going to be raised in the near future. Buying pre HW4 might be an advantage in some ways.