Has installing non-repository apps been confirmed as the root cause for the problem here, or is this going to be a cluster-fook for everyone?

If this is an issue, Nokia will scare all but the tech geeks away from this device. You tech geeks rock, but you do not drive most of the sales for the product.

The delay could be a blessing, but cause N900 preorders to get canceled in droves- if issues like this are a common problem.