I think Apple was making a terrible mistake. They are committing a similar mishap as Intel did with their flaw in the Pentium chip in 1994. Hardliner denial. Arrogance.
First, said the users are holding the device wrong.
Then, said it was a software "display" issue. The user shouldn't have 5-bar signal strength to begin with.
I have first hand experience with this issue. Hold the device on your left hand: signal strength went from 5 bars to 0 bar in 1 minute. No map. No google. No internet.
Place the device down on the table (5 inches away). Let it settle for 1 minute. Signal strength returned from 0 bar to 5 bars. Google map, Google search, I could internet all I wanted.
"Display" issue. Give me a break! Won't hold water.
No wonder RIMM went up like gangbuster since 2 days ago. Sub 50 to 55.