The product isn't the problem here genius, it's the delivery of it - so getting it from someone else wouldn't be the same indeed: the vapefiend shop for example delivers GHs that he truly has, within a reasonable amount of time, and it shows "not in stock" or smth when the batch he has is gone...like a real business - and the way they lie to customers about it. If they said "you'll get your unit at least 6 months from the day you ordered, so be a f'ing monk till then" I would have know the drill before hand and would not be here talking to an over educated - very high level of knowledge- I know-it-all dude like yourself.
I believe you have to stick by what you're saying, especially in business. I wasn't an indiegogo backer so I went by what they sold on their website: pre-orders shipped two months later. Not 4,6,8... Yeah, like an average customer.
Never had an experience like that with any other vape i own, even with the Crafty which was also brand new when i got it. You can't make excuses for lying like they did about their capacity to deliver.
As for why I don't ask for a refund is 1/ because I don't want to pay more for that unit and 2/ for the same reason you don't stop a tatoo midway: when you start you go all the way .
Modnote: All members must be treated with respect. Warning point issued.
If, as you said previously, you pre-ordered a Hopper in November 2015, that would mean that you had almost 2 years worth of internet hype and chatter here, reddit, wherever, that could have given you some indication of what the backstory was. Caveat emptor!
I'm not defending, nor am I making excuses for HL here. Disclosure, I did decide 8 months ago to plunk down some dough and wait like a f'ing monk. I recently doubled down. I've told them, "Take your time and do a nice job."
If you are convinced that HL is not reasonable, lies, makes excuses, etc. then why would you trust them one more day with your money? #1/To save a couple of bucks! What of, "I believe you have to stick by what you're saying, especially in business." What is your prescribed recourse? Maybe you can get in on that bitter Paypal revenge-action thing.
Your tatoo analogy/excuse for hanging in there is really funny. You pay a guy for a really cool tatoo, he says to come by in two weeks for the tat. Two weeks later, he says come back in two weeks, then again...and he's doing a guy who gave him money over a year ago...YOUR ink hasn't started yet, do you still want to "go all the way" with this guy, with this "tatoo"???