If the tables (tablets) were turned, and Apple’s products were to perform as poorly as the Surface, mobs would attempt to burn down the stores. But Microsoft gets a pass. What the heck, flickering screens of death, depleted batteries in sleep mode, running hot and slowly, and people still want to buy the Surface? Suckers born every day.
I wouldn't say Microsoft is "getting a pass" -- they're being panned pretty hard for the problems.
And Apple's had a few products that (initially) had issues -- who can forget the original iPhone 4 antenna design problems, and the deathless Apple response, "You're holding it wrong" (i.e. holding it the way 90% of smartphone users hold it). Apple was roundly trounced, but came back eventually with a revised design that works great (I have an iPhone 5c and love it).
I don't doubt that Microsoft will address these Surface issues. If they're design-related, and widespread enough, we'll see a new version of the hardware appear, and possibly a recall if they can't fix it with software updates. If they're manufacturing-related, that'll be interesting. I'm not sure who Microsoft has doing their manufacturing on these products.
Microsoft’s SOP, roll out in beta. They’ve done it so long their customers are used to being product testers.