Sure, but that was also true of 2017.

Tesla was quite explicit, that deliveries of the Model 3 started with the high end models first and work downwards from there. They actually started with a middle level model - long range battery but only rear wheel drive. That the production ramp-up was slower than hoped for is known. Mid 2018 they added the AWD model and the performance AWD model, later the mid-range rear wheel drive. Next step, that is clearly communicated by Tesla, will be the standard range battery. For that, they will build a new smaller and cheaper battery pack - the mid range has the same pack as the long range, just with fewer cells in it.

I'm sorry, but you are simply rewriting history. As late as July 2017 (when the Model 3 launched), Tesla was claiming that the base model would be available that year (https://electrek.co/2017/07/29/tesla-model-3-production-spec...). They had been saying the same thing (that a $35,000 would exist and be available in 2017 for the previous 3 years).