Stain on aluminum body of '23 MacBook Pro were palm rests.

Thanks for your reply. So if I got a premium brand car and used it normally for four weeks and clear patches appeared in the exact shape of my palm where it rested on the steering wheel - or perhaps on the finish around the door handle - this would be described as ‘normal wear and tear’? Incidentally this is exactly the kind of answer I see in this community and elsewhere. In all instances the aluminium finish is stained where the user rests there hand (usually worse than this as I tired to get this dealt with before it got worse - third time’s a charm) someone replies that it’s normal or to contact customer service. The former implies that normal is a finish that breaks down under regular use within weeks and the latter denies any instances of this and then replaces it at considerable cost. What a silly process. I’d happily pay more for a normal robust finish as per my last two silver MBPs but looks like that’s unlikely.

Ha! So true. 4 weeks and entropy must inevitably destroy the finish of the flagship product of the most expensive company in the world.. And yet entropy has ignored the finish of my cheap old Honda for 15 years. Mysterious universe indeed.

Anyhow this is less about a relatively minor cosmetic imperfection and more about trying to understand a legitimate issue with a product I saved up a long time for and is an integral part of my working life. And also feeling like I'm being fobbed off on various fronts.

If you or anyone else can help me I'd appreciate it.

If not plus ca change and fare thee well :)