cksla, have you ever tried to bring a product from clean-sheet drawing board to commercial production in 7 months, whilst not having control over the production facility or final OEM/distributor? Have you ever contracted for delivery of an item on a specified date, only to be told that there are delays due to this that or the other. You seem to think this unusual; I can assure you that in the real world it is not.
Always tell the truth. Then you'll never have to remember what you said the last time.