Another unscientific observation -
In spite of it's faults, think MS really cracked the code with the band.
I have been using Windows Phones since almost Day One (the current iteration; was never on Windows Mobile) for the last 4 years or so. In spite of my enthusiasm with the OS which is as much now as back when I converted over from Android, the best I have received from friends is mild interest. I converted one friend who now has the 925, but I can tell there isn't the same love - except when Cyan finally hit he thought the new calendar finally made the OS workable.
Skip to last week when I bought my band - every single day I get questions and compliments. Rather than the Windows Phone disdain, people are asking me how much it costs, and they love the demo I give. MS was also very smart to get Starbucks on board with this. People see me holding the band up to the checkout sensor and some have actually followed me to ask if they could get a closer look. Not one negative comment so far.
Even if MS is creating scarcity, I think that the enthusiasm over this is very widespread and very real!