One of the things they do is replace your iPad with a “re-conditioned one”. I expect this will often be the solution.

Ditto. If you were to get the Smart Cover you should also get a separate back cover, or just go with the Smart Case or one of many folio options on Amazon.

When it comes to shattered screens, it’s actually worse that the iPad uses adhesives compared to the iPhone’s screw-on construction. If you are to replace a broken iPad screen on your own you’d actually have to scrape up the glass shards piece by piece…it’s a pain.

It also makes me wonder how Apple will be able to provide in-store repair service if the iPad has such low repairibility. (I know they are only going to provide iPhone repair service in store later this year, but it should be a matter of time before they expand it to iPads too)

I’ve broken two iPads with the blasted thing on.

Turns out when you drop an iPad what you REALLY want is corner coverage. The iPad lands on a corner and that kind of impact is guaranteed to crack the glass on the face.

Interesting the glass shards are still glued to the tablet so the blasted thing still works although you need to be careful not to slice a finger.

The other cover does a nicer job of protecting the corners. You drop one of those and you have a shot at not breaking the face of your iPad.