I agree as well, if the problem is the band, they could have given us the option of taking a different band. Of course, if the problem is that they are simply going by SKU and the 42 mm SS Apple Watch with BSB is the last on the list, then it wouldn't have mattered. The best they could have done was either start earlier or simply let us know that we are at the end of the queue.
As far as if Steve Job had been there, I seem to recall a couple of similar type issues under Jobs.
I also expect that Apple won't say anything unless somehow the national media picks up on the story and it become a big deal rather than something to be swept under the rug.
I do wonder a bit if bringing in all the outsiders as top level execs has caused a culture change for the worse. I've seen it happen at a number of big companies. Long time CEO retires/leaves, the heir apparent gets the job and then brings in a group of outsiders to provide "a fresh view" and you get a quickly lose that mind set that makes the company special.