Apple and AT&T incompetent!

I'm beginning to see the level of incompetence from Apple and the carriers, especially AT&T. I order on Oct 11, and since then I am constantly getting three different statuses; Processing, Preparing to ship, and (gasps) Backordered. Seriously? I understand demand is huge. That's why I'm doing my best to wait patiently. What I find unacceptable is the lack of clear communication from AT&T. We are all paying customers. Nothing is being given free. We have to demand better consideration and treatment than this. And to Tim Cook I say screw your quarterly numbers. They mean nothing to me. All I'm interested in is getting the product both you and AT&T are still offering as available on your websites, and for which we are paying top money.
Get your act together!!!