i mean something like all ppl interested in one device could join one groupbuy (maybe assisted by a lawyer) that draw up a contract with the seller that states a clear refound conditions bond to a strict delivery date.
if all customer put the things in this way, the sellers think twice before acting shady.
Asic customers are all at eachother's throats really. If I order from company A, and you order from company B and B fails to deliver, I make more money. BFL's failure has resulted in a lot of people who didn't order from them making a lot more money then they would have.