Why would you switch the same week they were going to announce all new stuff?

There's a 2 week return period, and I wanted to be sure I'd be fine switching to iOS before buying an expensive new device. Part of the reason I'm switching is the new Pro models are a lot closer to Android phones with features like always on display. Based on the rumors, I was pretty sure what to expect today, so I have just been onboarding myself with iOS yesterday and today and can return the phone by the time I should have the new one in hand.

Odd strategy. Why wouldn't you just return the 14 Pro if you didn't like it?

Because I'm immediately leaving town. I can grab it, quickly set it up, and know what to expect.

Don't leaving town make returning difficult?

I believe what the gp is really saying is that by the time they get to pick up the iPhone 14 Pro (whether in store or when their pre-order gets delivered), they'll be too close to the date of their departure.

In other words, they would not have had any meaningful time getting accustomed to iOS from Android, which is why they used the strategy of getting an iPhone 13 spend 2 weeks or more with it, in the hopes that if they like the experience, they'd return it for the newer iPhone 14 Pro.

Correct!

the question remains, why could you not wait instead of creating a refurbished device due to impatience?

I was disappointed to find that if you return an iphone it gets recycled, as in destroyed and ground up to materials, rather than there being any channel of refurbished/open box sales.

Thank you. Obviously the guy working at the store was not fully informed.

Second hand phones exist.