It's amazing how many of my friends dismisses the retina display, saying either it's not important or it's just a marketing hype. I guess it's really hard to put into words how good those displays are, it's really something they'd have to see.
When you are holding the device and just looking at it, maybe trying a few apps - whether at the store, or trying out your friends - the display is the only constant that'll matter and it's the only thing that you can definitively and objectively compare.
And yes - I do agree with you - Apple and their bundles of cash have likely hamstrung world-wide inventories of this display for a minimum of 60, if not 90 days. No other electronics vendor will be shipping the 2048x1536 form factor in large volumes until June/July at the very earliest.
Also, Apple says they'll have enough screen for 12-15 million devices this quarter, and claim there's no supply issue at all. [1]
That aside, shortage isn't bad for in-demand items. It just causes more hype. A year after the Wii shortage, they were still one of the hotest electronic devices you could get your hands on.
[1] http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/us-apple-idUKBRE82C...
Anyways, I was attempting to upvote your comment because I've noticed the same. I'm sure it will change once they see the display in person, and then see an iPad 1 or 2 again. I stare at pixels all day and it was an incredible upgrade to go from a standard Dell to a MBP with a high res display a few years back. Looking forward to this next step as well.