I just got back from the Apple Store this morning to get a pair of AirPods and it was a LOT less crowded than previous iPhone release days. The sales associate explained that the iPhone 8 could be ordered online for delivery today which I guess hasn’t been the case before.
It was the same last year with the introduction of the iPhone 7 and 7 plus. . . yet Apple had the best Quarter sales in their history and opening weekend of any iPhone since the introduction of the new iPhone 6 and 6 plus. Apple has been offering the pre-orders online to avoid the line-up issues since the iPhone 4s and it has cut down on the crowds at the stores considerably on opening days because customers know they have the latest new iPhone delivered to their door on the opening day by FedEx. Apple had 4 million pre-orders for the iPhone 8 in just in China, let alone the 29 other countries including the US where it is being delivered today, September 22, 2017.
In addition, Menehune56, the iPhone 8 is not Apple's Flagship introduction this year. The Flagship for Apple is the iPhone X, which is not coming out until November 2nd.