how would that change the situation? not at all. if they officially inform that n900 comes to shops at 20.10.2009 in germany and finland and that doesn't happend and there is no official correction, FIVA would sue.


nothing spesific for a release date = a little slack for last minute delays (i haven't seen a project in my short working life that didn't have those!)

so in nutshell.

if nokia had knew 25.8.2009 that N900 would be ready for shipping exactly 10.10.2009, they would have announced it.

its bit like asking lottery numbers when asking what day exactly your copy of n900 is shipped. nothing is as certain as uncertainty.
e: off course closer the release date gets, more probably they can quess the dates better.