That statement is vague when taking it in the context
@DANLUNATIC 's question of "Does that mean ax8 always had a waitlist?"
The AX8 did not always have a waitlist. Both
@LizzyD and I bought the AX8 directly without a waitlist.
I'm not sure of all the particulars, but originally there was a waitlist and then they got enough in stock so no waitlist was necessary. Then, it seems Fractal went out of stock of the AX8, put people on a new AX8 waitlist, announced the FM3, and then put the AX8 people on the FM3 waitlist. I am not sure at what point they discontinued the AX8. It is possible they did not have their supply chain under control, kept accepting orders, and then later discontinued it. I doubt they would keep taking orders for the AX8 when it went out of stock and they already knew they were discontinuing it. I would hope not, as I would have hated waiting for an AX8 and then being offered a FM3, as I prefer the AX8 over the FM3 because of its form factor. They may have not wanted to reveal the FM3 too soon, and the AX8 being discontinued could have hinted at something new, but just leaking a hint of something new without revealing it would not be as bad as misleading customers. Fractal has been classier than that, so I suspect it was supply chain issues. Although, there may have been other reasons.