The 15th has sounded like a realistic release date for a while. From a logistics standpoint, I remember there was talk around November 22 that the supply had not shipped to the US. Taking into account the shipping process, customs, warehouse stocking, then shipping to individual stores, the 15th makes sense. Especially since there have been plenty of Verizon stores that have them right now and plenty that do not and have not received their shipments yet. I'm really wondering if this is all a matter of waiting on supply to get to all of their stores. Then again I could be totally wrong. But, my prediction as of last month (on Androidcentral) was that we wouldn't see them go on sale until at least the 15th, but probably the week of the 22nd.
Here's to hoping it's the 15th... though my wife and I will be on a cruise for a week starting this Sunday. Hope everyone gets theirs!