For some reason I really do not know why would the seller be "setting up country specific locale" before sending the device away. Also for the device to arrive at your doorstep battery flat.

In most cases, devices with batteries that are not charged up usually are deemed as D.O.A. (Dead On Arrival). Normally one could get their devices replaced with a device that is equivalent to the one that was D.O.A. (or better). Furthermore, it is never good to have a flat battery as it does not do the battery any good (nor would it benefit the device retaining flat battery).

A brand new N900 straight from the shops would have been:
- Charged at least 50% so that one can use their device immediately. Though they will need to charge their device once they could access to a power source. The manual would most likely document the same thing as well.
- Been factory reset (most likely via flashing). The device would show you a welcome screen asking you to set time/date/location/etc.
- Have a black "matte-like material" covering the screen portion of the device to prevent any dust gathered on the screen itself.

Your N900 seems to miss all three of those categories. That's not really what a real N900 was meant to be let alone the proper experience of what N900 was meant to be.

I'm seriously hoping its just the battery issue/defect and that your replacement battery works. When the replacement battery you get works, see if you can boot N900 normally. Also I'd ask the seller as to why the seller gave you a flat battery. That is really misleading.

N.B.: Ok the linked video wasn't exactly the same as what I got. The video featured the US version. Differing from the video and my retail box, etc are:
- No nokia sticker to open the case. I don't even have DHL/EMS packaging, mine was straight from a phone shop.
- No stop pamphlet, etc. Mine just had get started booklet.
- The theme colour is slightly different, the author of video has green texts at welcome screen. Mine is blue.

The rest remains true as to what a proper N900 experience should have been.