Mine seemed physically perfect - it was properly packed (AFAIK) in its sealed box when I bought it.
If physical damage had happened to it during manufacture, another good reason for a proper Final Inspection unit at all manufacturers, something that would have prevented my subsequent and damaging skepticism about Nikon after a lifetime of huge satisfaction with their many and varied products that I've owned.
My belief is that it probably isn't so much about individual lenses, but more about the shrinking levels of expectation that buyers seem to exhibit, if reading LuLa is any indicator of what people are prepared to accept as service and quality. The ease with which folks chat about trying out number three or four in any focal length before finding something good is unbelievable to someone of my generation. With that in mind, perhaps companies just produce stuff that is unreasonably complex simply in order to be able to claim that they do offer something exotic. I'd rather have properly functioning that exotic pretty much any day!
Rob C
