I've been swimming around in the n7 forums and figured I would throw my .02 in concerning this whole situation.
Start with the stores. They have little to no information and quite honestly are the bottom of the food chain for information. These updates come via internal email and very often the store reps don't check it. So if you're trying to get anything out of them, you might as well be talking to a rock.
Call centers can be a hit or miss depending on how your call is routed. If you get an agent in the states the chances you'll get correct information is about 75%. If you get an outsource agent, that drops down to 10%. Once again, it all boils down to information flow and outsource centers are the last to know. Agents in the states have the opportunity to access the info as it comes. Just a matter if you have someone who is into the product or just there to get a check.
The media. Well...it's the media. They aren't in this to sell phones. They want ratings. Trusting the news on this recall is crazy and it's been proven quite a few times.
Carrier and Samsung website will be the most accurate. If it's posted there, then it's as good as gold. Companies have channels and legal departments that proof read all of the material before it's fit to hit the Web. Chances of that info being incorrect is <1% because no company will put something in writing that leaves them open for liability.
That leaves us with the CPSC. Once they stepped in, they became all knowing, all powerful. Whatever arrangement or plan they have with Samsung is ultimately going to dictate when these phones will be released. If Samsung has all their ducks in a row and paperwork to back it up, should be a smooth process. I'm guessing they do and that's why shipments are still hitting stores and being held.
I know it's a long post but I've been in and out of the wireless industry and work for a rather big telecommunications company now and I can say from my experience, that is how we should be trusting information on this process.