To the community and Alex (Message will be sent via email too).
I just got my case through UPS today, (Kickstarter, Germany, Steel + 2 panel sets). Overall the case packaging looks like it is improved and I did not have any fallen magnets or missing corners as far as I could see. The case exterior finish is great and I did not observe any immediately obvious blemishes worth reporting on. There were a few scratches on the inside of the shell and some panels, but at a tolerable level for my standards.
However, what was noticeable was that the glass was looking not in great shape. I immediately noticed that the Shield of Founders (Fig 1) and one of the glass panels had a large chip in the corner (Fig 2). Close inspection of the chip on the Shield of Founders show that there are also numerous smaller chips in the surrounding area (Fig 3). It was also noticeable that the edge of the glass must be incredibly jagged as you can see many sparkling artifacts on the edge of every panel (Fig 4).
Now apart from being rather disappointed about the chipped glass on two panels, this raised an overall question in my head - I thought tempered glass doesn't chip. I always was under the impression that if you damaged TG like how it is in these photos, they will shatter completely, and that is the point of TG. So I am in an uneasy situation with the following possibilities:
1 - The glass panel is actually not tempered glass and that's why it got chipped.
2 - The glass is tempered glass, and now that it is chipped, it is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode spontaneously
3 - I don't understand materials as well as I think I do.
Fig 1: Overview of the Shield of Founders and the noticeable chip in the glass
Fig 2: Overview of the glass panel and the noticeable chip in the glass
Fig 3: Near-Macro shot of the chip on the Shield of Founders
Fig 4: Very jagged glass edge visible from angles