This, evidently, is not only a common problem but it seems it can lead to other, more serious issues. My daughter's MB had this problem to the extreme, The "chipping" was very bad and not just at the optical drive location but all around the top of the case leaving actual gaps between the top and sides. A few days ago the computer simply stopped working and nothing would bring it back to life. Took it to the Apple store where the guy told me it would cost $280 to fix it (it's out of warranty). When I pressed him for more details he told me that whatever was wrong with the computer would be fixed and that the total would be $280. I thought that was pretty odd but I left the computer there. Today it came back with a new top/keyboard/trackpad assembly, a new MLB, a new heatsink assembly, a new display bezel and a new battery connector assembly! Now, is it just me or does that not seem like an awful lot of repairs for $280? I am thinking that this "chipping" issue can become severe enough to ruin the structural integrity of the case, allowing things to flex and move in ways that would otherwise not be possible. I can't imagine why Apple would do this much work for such a low "flat rate", especially considering that they had no idea of the extent of the work needed until the computer had been sent to the repair center and examined. So I'm thinking that this is some kind of undisclosed "covert" recall. It's like they are saying "Look, we know the things are falling apart but we don't want to come right out and admit it. So we will fix whatever needs fixing for a nominal charge in exchange for your not pressing the issue." And, as I understand it, the "new" tops are of an "improved formulation" of plastic that is supposed to be more resistant to chipping and cracking.
