You're right to BigD. The 360 is well designed for gaming. Even if it was not well manufactured or quality tested. Newer Falcons take care of the overheating problems.
Where's the proof about the Falcons solving this problem? Can you now make sure you are buying the Falcon model in the shops? It's a farce Microsoft should have let customers know that the new model is available and made them a different colour or something! There's no way I'd buy faulty hardware like the old XBox 360s whatever the warantee!!
You can tell by a serial # on the unit. There is proof as a new defect has taken the lead and MikeB even posted about it...