Inconsistent keyboard backlighting: quality control oversight or design issue?

Question

I'm on my second MBA in two weeks--the first unit was returned because of a noisy hinge.  On both machines I noticed that one of the lighted keys are dimmer than others.  The left Command key is dimmer than the right.  I noticed a similar problem with my first machine except it was the Option keys.  Again, left key slightly dimmer than the right.
Just curious if there's anyone out there who just bought a new MBA who can report the same.  Is this a quality control oversight or a design problem...
I likely won't return this one because of this minor oversight, but my opinion about quality control is this: if you can't get the little things right, how can we be confident you got the big things right.  Glad I purchased Apple Care.

Answer 1

I know what you mean about quality control. However, you may want to try two things before you return it:
1. Rub around the dead pixel. Google this method and you'll find more details. Sometimes the pixels can be restored to life.
2. Put a small piece, or layered pieces, of electrical tape in the battery slot to fill in the gap. I've often done this with my apple laptops and it works perfectly. Once, when I was at the genius bar, the genius commented " Oh, good that you put the tape there and not over here like a lot of people do..." indicating that this is very common.
Should you have to? No, of course not! But if your computer is otherwise good, I would definitely try these potential solutions.
I'm afraid this is what quality control has come to. It's the same throughout the electronics industry and apple is no exception. The only company I've never had an issue with is Sony, but maybe I've just been lucky?