It seems pretty clear that the non-essential interior features were the last thing on Tesla's long list of stuff to design (that's what happens when you build a car from the ground up - so glad they didn't neglect things like the power train and the brakes). So things like consoles, cupholders and other elements of the interior never got enough attention in the rush to bring the car to market (anyone notice there's not a single interior shot in the Model S gallery?). Even after the October 1 event when people complained about these things, Tesla still had other more critical things to work on.
I think it's pure genius that George Blankenship headed off all the negativity at the pass by saying (paraphrasing) "we've got a console - but we need your feedback - this is your opportunity to help design it." So everyone is focused on "helping" rather than "badmouthing." Bottom line is Tesla right now has a blank sheet of paper and they might not have something for Model S owners for 6-12 months - which is probably good enough for most people.
I think one thing to realize is that Tesla is working with some "limitations" that other automakers don't face. (1) They've got that massive screen which encompasses almost all the controls of the car. It's already probably a little bit too low on the bottom for reaching down to change the temperature etc (which is why they are raising the screen up in the Model X). So there's nowhere to put any cupholders in the center stack without blocking the screen - that's why you see cupholders appearing on the floor - which is way too low. (2) they've got that massive panoramic roof which they must design for - so there's no place to put sunglass holders etc up by the windshield. (3) They've decided to highlight the fact that there is no transmission tunnel by not having a traditional center console (along with the fact there is no shifter or parking brake) - so there's no place to put cupholders between the front of the seats and the dashboard.
So here's my "worst to first" suggestion for how Tesla can take the lead in interior storage space, cupholders, et cetera. Probably going to have to wait for Model S 1.5.
The only vehicles on the road today (I know of) without transmission tunnels and traditional center consoles are minivans. Beneath the screen there should be three storage compartments stacked down to the ground. One should be a shelf - with two USB ports / power outlets, another should be a shelf with a front "door" that lifts up like a garage door (thinking about my old Honda here) and the bottom one should be a drawer that slides out. Keep the "fences" that corral the space from the dash console to the seats for purses and other large loose objects. The console that is between the seats should do only three things (1) it should function as an armrest (like it does currently) (2) it should supply A/C to the rear seats and (3) it should open up to be a small refrigerator! - this is something you don't find on most sedans and something that should be easy enough to accomplish given this massive power supply you have in the form of the battery. [Note that minivans put their cupholders between the seats and then they attach armrests to the seats themselves which is not as nice or as functional as traditional armrests.]
But what about the cupholders? That is the best part. I think they need to design cupholders that work very similarly to the door handles. Have metal ring-style cupholders that come out when you push them (motorized?). Then allow the driver to select heating or cooling and the metal will heat or cool your beverage for you. You can even give metal thermal Tesla logo-ed travel mugs. You don't want cupholders in the doors and for the driver you can't put them between the steering wheel and the center stack. But I think they would fit by the A-pillars on each side of the dashboard. They also can extend from the console between the seats to serve the rear passengers.
Put some map pockets in the doors and some pockets on the back of the front seats and call it a day. The refrigerator and heating/cooling metal cupholders make Tesla a winner in interior functionality.
