dclegg: Would be ironic if this whole mess was caused by a souring of relationships between Vodafone and Apple, and yet the only way you can currently get a phone is if you commit to a plan with VF. Jobs and Co. would've really stuck it to VF then, huh? :-)
it sounds like it is a stock issue, and if you were Vodafone who would you want to give them to? those who buy them outright or on prepay that can easily walk down the road and put in a competitors SIM, or those who promise to pay you every month for the next 2 years?
i know which one person i would give the iPhone 4 too