975X - Is There Any Consensus?

Question

I'm a long-time MSI customer/buyer/builder, but frankly the volume of really bad reviews of the 975X Platinum V.2 on NewEgg alone, causes me to hesitate. 
Then I come back to the very fine MSI User Forums and see that the 975X BIOS issue - alone - has generated, to date, 420 replies and nearly 16,000 Views.  Couple this with the other, general concerns, e.g., boot troubles, RAID failures, sound issues, etc., posted elsewhere on the regular P4 Forum, and it's clear that MSI, always putting its latest "good stuff" out for sale, might really have gotten ahead of itself with the 975X Platinum V.2 . . . understandable I guess with Core 2s literally getting run over by the Quads before they were out 60 days. 
I've used five MSI motherboards in my last five PC builds, even teaming the last one up with an MSI videocard.  Sure, a few problems here and there, but nothing like what is being reported about the 975X Platinum V.2.
I was considering buying the 975X Platinum V.2 . . . until . . . I really sat down and read some buyer reviews, from actual BUYERS and Builders, and then read - for almost two hours - the comments on the MSI Forums.
A couple of sour gripes here and there, I could understand . . . but of the 78 total reviews posted on NewEgg alone, 30 of them are no better than AVERAGE, with 12 being POOR and VERY POOR.  These reviews are clearly from many people who have used their own funds, and who WANT to think the BEST of what they've bought and used.  Whew!
I even have a more fundamental question:
What the heck does "PowerUp Edition" mean?  Are all V.2 975X Platinum Editions the "PowerUp Edition", or not?  And did Tom's Hardware have a "special" V.2 975X Platinum "REALLY PowerUp Edition", or were they smoking something when they gave it the Editor's Choice Award"?  And even MSI can't seem to decide whether to use the phrase or not when referring to the 975X Platinum V.2.
Lastly, and with respect for the many fine posters on these MSI Forums, what's the consensus?  Is there one? 
Is there even a limited consensus to go ahead and buy the 975X and fix the glaring problems with Live Update now, and later as more releases surely come from MSI? 
Or is there a consensus to stay the heck away from the 975X Platinum V.2 until MSI releases the next, hopefully better, Version?
Or is the 975X so flawed that there is a consensus forming to avoid it altogether?
I would sincerely appreciate any thoughts. 
Thanks.

Answer 1

Well, apparently quite a few have made their way back to NewEgg . . . they are being sold as "OPEN BOX" for $112 with FREE shipping . . . I know, because I just bought TWO, plus one RETAIL at $170 to go with them.
Call me crazy, but this thread (and others like it) didn't scare me off.
Why buy returns?  Oh partly for the savings (I'm retired) and partly for the challenge.  If I can get them to run in a minimal way, maybe MSI will come along with fixes eventually . . . BIOS or otherwise for the DDR800 and other failings.  I noticed today that MSI is beginning to add some explanatory comments about the 975X on their website pages.
One of the eBay Sellers posts the following caveat on his website, and it probably applies in some small measure to what is going on with the 975X:
Item Condition Bad (Has issues) They may not power up or they may have other issues, if we know what the issues are we say so. These are for people way smarter than us (no need to confirm that either). For those lacking in comprehension that are still seeking a answer as to the condition of this item, it could be bad, not good, the anti good, good not, broke, defective, non-working, not fully functional, dysfunctional, defective, no-worky, or it could be fine and we are too dumb to know it is not broke. Still we are calling bad and selling it as is.
Where do you get this stuff? We dismantle entire truck loads of computer systems, laptops and computer components. We also get in parts from retired, end of life, obsolete or excess stock and customer returns.
Who buys this stuff? These auctions are aimed at people with the time and skills to repair these items if necessary. So, if you have or have had a pocket protector, tape on your glasses, the side off your box*, a soldering iron, you are our man or (be still my heart) our geeky girl.
Why bid on this stuff? Our competitors hate that we honestly describe these items as bad when they will not. Our lack of time, equipment and/or ability, means we start our auctions at blowout prices. Rather than offer a warranty and let you do all the work like our competitors, we sell all these items "as is" all sales final. These are the same items obtained through the same channels that many other ebay sellers use. We just call it what it is.
Please bid. If you are reasonably well adjusted, and you have both a sense of adventure and humor, welcome friend, please bid high and frequently. If your sense adventure or frugal nature will not allow you to risk your hard earned dough, check our other auctions for no doa warranty or new items we may just have something for you too:).
Please do not bid. If you are prone to whining when things do not go your way, do not bid. (we will make fun of you)
If you think negative feedback threats will make us take back a honestly listed item, do not bid. (we will make fun of you)
If you find anything in this auction distasteful, if you are ignorant, do not read well, no speeky (or reedy) english or just did not notice this huge amount of important information, do not bid. (we will make fun of you). If you were abducted by aliens and the probes interfere with your attention span, do not bid. (we already make fun of you)
Attention retentives, we know we are unprofessional (we dont even tie our shoes), no need to point it out to us, the big kids already make fun of us at recess. We mean no offense, we just try to have fun at work (you should try too). Do those probes hurt?