It was clear when they first
It was clear when they first announced the car that it would be $35,000 for the base model with "over 200 miles" per charge. They never said "over 300 miles per charge" for the base model. Long range version is an upgrade to that, so of course it would be more. Why would someone get sticker shock when the short range specs have always been $35,000, 200+ miles? Options cost more on ALL cars. I've never seen an option that is free on a car. Even parallel options will have one costing more.
It was always known that employees, owners, and those on the west coast would get vehicles first, so they aren't 6 months behind schedule. They are currently delivering to them now. They have pushed my delivery date back only by a month, just as they did with those that are getting theirs this week. Also, my reservation says the standard range (220 miles) will be available in early 2018. So, how has this been the worst in history? I'd even say the Bolt was worse. They are just now getting vehicles to the entire nation, after starting in 2016 only in California.
You said yourself that no one has seen the base version, but somehow The Verge proclaims that no one will buy it. People are buying the Bolt and it's, well, a Bolt, and it costs $2500 more than Model 3's base version, with only 18 more miles on a full charge. The Verge has no idea if people will buy it.