You have every right to rant and you have every right to be a satisified customer. I went through two Apple Shuffle ipods before one worked. Within one month the first one would not turn on and the Apple store tells me I need to make an appopintment with a technician. After two missed appointments due to work, I went in and demanded a manager. I wanted an exchange, you would have thought that I asked for his wallet or something. He hymmed and hawed and I reminded him that Florida laws gives me rights to exchange a faulty product. Well I got a new shuffle and it worked fine. What would the tech have done? Tried to turn it on and exchange it. That set me off. Apple has some strange policies.
All I can say is be a squeeky wheel until you get a product that is to your satisfaction. You'll probably have to eat the engraving but if it rattles is will soon fail. Good luck.