Two comments -
First, you are doing a "meaning of is" argument. By that I mean that while it's literally true that Apple didn't lie to us (I mean how could they, it's not like they actually have communicated much to us), it's also true that they failed to deliver to the expectations that have set on previous pre-orders. In the past, it's been orders filled in the order in which they were received. We only found out that it was different this time well after the fact.
Second, over time, the ordering hype for products, i.e. standing in line at an Apple Store, or getting up at midnight Pacific time (3 am EST for me) has generated a lot of energy for the iPhone and iPads. If Apple's new policy is "we will hand orders in whichever method is most convenient for us", then there really isn't much point to getting up in the middle of the night to order, or standing in line. If I can stay in bed, get up at my normal time and have just as much chance of getting my order on launch day as the guy who is the first person to put in an order, then guess what. I'm staying in bed. If standing in line, or getting up in the middle of the night to order doesn't mean that I'm going to be one of the first to get the latest gadget, then why do it?