So, status right now:
1. Device is over a month delayed -
best case. In the meantime Pocketbook have been evasive and Pocketgoods has tried telling us what he was told, which was misleading every time.
2. Pocketbook have started pointing fingers at module manufacturer, shipping handler and customs only after frustrated name-calling. Only one of these is plausibly something not to be prepared for, and should have been announced with weeks to spare - none of this passed delivery date nonsense.
3. It appears we've been told there'll be another extra delay to install slightly less out of date firmware, but we'll still need to update on our own since that will be yet another half-done version.
4. Meanwhile other Pocketbook devices aren't up to specifications
as sold after six months. The 302 is still marketed as supporting keyboards.
I get the impression I should have cancelled my order already.