I call bull. One report they are saying it's running gingerbread because ICS isn't available yet. Now all of a sudden it was running ICS? Also like they mentioned ICS is Gingerbread 2.3 plus Honeycomb 3.0 so how can the number be 2.4? Also why would Verizon want the Samsung chip VS the TI chip? I think now they are just making this crap up either web hits, or for some idiot to be able to brag about his made up info, on made up specs made the web news. Also, why the hell would a Samsung employee sit down with some random guy to talk about this phone? Why??? For what purpose? I call bull! Not going to lie the "specs" of the "SGSIII" sounds amazing more reason it's probably more bull!!
on the whole, i think you're right - it's a load. but, some of the assertions cause me some pause. for example, the idea that ICS might be numbered 2.4. i remember months ago when the ICS name leaked, it was suggested at that time that even though it was coming after HC, it would have a 2.4 number. so, that's not completely out of whack.
as for the chip, we've all been working under the assumption that it would be a OMAP chip, because of Google's announcement that TI was its preferred chip partner. but, that announcement just came recently, and (if Google is to be believed) the Nexus has been under development for almost a year now. so, it would be reasonable to assume that Sammy chose its own chip initially, and it may not have been possible to switch over to Google's "preferred" chip.
so, some of this stuff is entirely possible. but, it is also something that could have just been made up using the rationale i did. the thing that speaks most to me is the way in which this guy leaked the info - that, more than anything, just reeks of being unreliable.