Perhaps you're viewing December 23rd as a hard and fast "rule" given for the delivery date. But that would be viewing it wrong. With Lionel and MTH delivery dates it's helpful to remember what Captain Barbossa said in the Pirates of the Caribbean "...the Code is more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules..." (See it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnGDQ7Rk-pQ)
But seriously, I've learned to be very flexible with delivery dates. And I'd much rather get it eventually in good working order than get it sooner with shoddy workmanship. Sometimes things from both companies arrive late and with problems but such is life in this hobby.
