I agree, I would also be anything but happy if a new device fails, no matter if it cost 50, 500, or even more Euro.
But I don’t think the release was premature. Also with electronics from big and well known vendors you will always have a few devices that fail. So far there were appr. 12.000 Fairphones shipped, my estimate is that about 30-50 people here complained about having problems (excl. bugs); so that’s what, about half a percent? I don’t think it is unsafe to buy a Fairphone. Especially since for those who experienced problems it seemed that it wasn’t a big problem at all to get a replacement. So worst case is, you have to wait 2 weeks longer to have your new FP2.
I for once had no problems yet my FP2. Since it is rooted I am quite happy with it!