I wonder if BFL is doing samples because they no longer have the cash to pay for a full production run.
If they are making changes to the chips (the only non-cash reason I can think of (without coffee) for still doing sample runs) then they still have to pay for a new mask and full production run. Those are pricey, and BFL may have burned all it's cash.
After all, top flight product managers don't come cheap!
Chances are very good that there'll getting low on cash, for legally they can't touch a single penny of the pre-order dollars until they start shipping out en mass.
Isn't there a single entity that can be contacted to audit their books to make sure the funds are still safe in case all moneys needed to be returned?