Why is Apple DVD drive so bad?

well, two things:

1) things can brake. it's just bad luck.
2) I think the 30 day period is just so they are on the safe side. normally a repair like this (where the damaged part is obvious) doesn't take that long, depending on how much computers they have to repair. I would phone the apple store and ask if they have a lot to do right now because you need your imac back as soon as possible. If they aren't overwhelmed with work I'd say it doesn't take longer than a week

Have fun with your next horrible computer.

Borgin. No doubt all "All-in-One" models such as iMac and also PCs as well seem to have higher rate of issues with the DVD drive. Most "experts" have claimed this is because of the necessary Vertical installation - although the manufacturers deny this.
I have been lucky so far with my iMac, but if and when I run into such a problem I will go to a external unit.

wmowbray
What you have read and say could well be.

Here is another thought. Look at how cheap Optical drives are today. For the degree of high technology involved, you can buy one retail for about $35.
(Apple don't make the DVD drives Borgen, they buy them from a supplier, at no doubt the most competitive price).

Most people have experienced CD/DVD difficulties, like not having DVD video play, or unsuccessfully burning a CD, or unable to read the bootable OS on DVD. And then the wind changes and these things work.

I think using a laser beam to read different data formats was an amazing invention, and being able to melt the aluminum to write to it was even more so. Literally on a desktop. But because they are high-tech, they are high fidelity and consequently their tolerances are prone to be fickle. That these truly high-tech devices cost about the price of three pizzas, severely undervalues this technology.

Why so cheap? I think aside from the push to have all things manufactured in China, the other factor is that optical drives are now quite old and will probably be increasingly replaced by solid state flash data storage. The production of optical drives is then a race to the bottom in the twilight years of a declining technology as no-one is investing any R&D into them, as they become yesterday's hero.

On an historical note, Apple was a trendsetter 10 years ago, when it abandoned the 3.5" magnetic disk and went solely to CD.
At some point I see CD/DVDs replaced by a small SS flash stick and your OS 10.7 or whatever will come on that instead.

Roam: Interesting analysis and I wouldn't dispute any of it. Good points.

Well I can tell you I've just had the worst experience with Dell ever. Dont ever resort to buying a Dell.

I'm with the "vertical install" camp - what do you expect from a vertically installed super slim laptop style drive where a CD or DVD could easily move ever so slightly 1/10th of a mm. I've used an external burner for years and only use the internal occasionally. Additionally, Apple does not make the drives - they buy them from different manufacturers. Having said that, 30 days would be unacceptable to me; do you have Applecare? I don't know the terms in your country, but in the US you can request in-home service if you have Applecare and live within 50 miles of an AASP.

And you live in a beautiful city!