Apple is well regarded for their strategy. I don't find it very credible that Apple is reacting here, it seems apparent that they would anticipate substantial negative reception.

So this delay is preordained in the strat, right?

But Apple is only human and has had its share of monumental wtf, so this is just a huge gaffe? The spyware team didn't know about iphone 13 launch? This seems incredible.

There is some n-dimensional chess at play here. I feel like a popcorn munching audience member who is actually a pawn in another dimension.