However, has Fuji determined the root of the problem and isolated it to batches or addressed the design fault with the reissued lenses? I just fear Fuji installing new units that simply give the X100 another few months/1000 shutters and then we're back in the shop again. Hmmm....
I'm willing to give them the benefit of doubt and assume they have tracked down the problem and are not simply setting up users with likely to fail replacement parts.
That said, there are reports - still a relative handful but slowly growing in numbers - of cameras failing twice (and in one instance, thrice!) with the same problem. Unless we see the numbers climb dramatically like the sticky aperture blade issue round one, I'm going to further extend Fujifilm the benefit of doubt and guess that some bad parts were out there in the service chain. Hopefully they've got control over parts inventory by now.
It seems clear that user-discovery of the issue is no where near 100%. Infrequent or inexperienced camera users may have the problem for some time before they finally clue in. I've seen so many examples of this on various forums that the effect of inexperience is probably magnified in the wild rather than over-reported on forums. But there is no way of proving this.
While their silence on the issue is not surprising, I'm still ticked off that they choose to downplay the issue whenever someone connected with the problem speaks to it. I'm aware of two Fujifilm centers that when contacted will claim "you are the first" when ample evidence of prior failed cameras going to that center can be found with just a minute or two searching on line.
The most troubling thing about this failure is the impact on second hand cameras. The X100 is a camera that will fit some people very well and others not at all, yet folks will try it. Given this widespread-enough rate of failure, Fujifilm's official policy to deny warranty repair on resold cameras is a problem for those who do not hang on to every camera they've ever bought, forever.
The bill for "fixing" a second hand X100 that has this manufacturing or design defect is 750 - 850 dollars CAD/US based on a number of reports. That's a bitter pill to swallow for a second hand camera buyer of a camera that likely hasn't been used very much. As more failures in second hand cameras happen, are discovered, and are found to be so costly to their buyers, word will spread through the used market that the X100 shouldn't be trusted, at least not if it hasn't already had a lens assembly replacement. Prices will be under pressure... it is only logical.
I'd rather Fujifilm swallowed the bitter pill and established a formal policy on warranty repairs for this specific issue and ensured that it wasn't limited to original camera owners only.
Quick replacement for the original buyer is fine and dandy but that alone isn't enough, not when the issue affects seemingly so many cameras and is likely to be a widespread production or design defect.
Personally I am reluctant to buy a new Fujifilm product based on the handling of this issue so far. If they make sure owners are covered for this defect, that'd make me do a complete 180 and sing their praises without reservation once again.
That's my two cents.