Nokia's shop in DE still quotes 12th of October (depending on product availability ...)
Bei Vorbestellung ist eine Anlieferung voraussichtlich ab dem 12. Oktober 2009 möglich. Dies ist abhängig von der gewählten Versandart und Produkt-Verfügbarkeit. (Source)
IIRC, they had supply problems with the N770. Although I pre-ordered direct from Nokia, I did so slightly too late as I ended up getting one from some second manufacturing run and did not get mine until a few weeks after the initial release
P.S. I read Mobile-Review regularly and I've never heard anti-Nokia bias from Eldar Murtazin (contrary to that, he seems to be a bit too pro-Nokia). Thus, I think either it's the objective state of affairs or some kind of Nokia's own play to frighten non-geeks from the product.