I've recently had reason to take the legs off of a few kettles and I have a new replacement bowl for my performer.
ALL OF THEM HAVE BARE METAL IN THE LEG SOCKETS.
I was extremely pissed when I got my LE red because of this very issue. Based on what I have seen on my kettles and a few that I've seen with friends, this appears to have been like this for a very long time(if not forever).
That being said, I'm not as pissy about it as I was. If this has always been like this, then it moves me to the "meh" column.
The rest of the issues, rim rash, large scratches/dents, etc... Are still BS and should be handled by Weber. I don't know if they will or not as I have tried unsuccessfully to register my LE red four times now.