Your best chance to get some answers from Purism is by email: https://forums.puri.sm/t/how-to-properly-send-emails-to-purism/2274
But they probably say, they will know more in January. I guess they will manage to get the FCC certification (a showstopper) in January and you’ll receive the phone in February.
It doesn’t make too much sense now to get a refund, because of the refund policy that now says that the refund will be processed only when it’s your turn in the queue to receive the phone. So probably in February too. So then, will you choose the $600 or just take the phone you have waited so long?
Yes, some “Chief Officers” are … well, am not allowed to say it - by forum rules, BUT in spite of that, most employees seems to be very dedicated to the project and have worked very hard and really have created the promised product. If only they’ll succeed with the FCC thing. That’s the very BIG thing now.