Conclusions
Now that we have a clearer notion of what exactly retail Survivor enclosures will look and behave like, I have no problem updating the recommendations from our original review.

If you don't work inside your PC very often but are an inveterate LAN gamer who requires a quiet, compact, and portable machine packed to the brim with enthusiast-friendly features like USB 3.0 connectivity, liquid-cooling support, and childishly easy-to-use hard-drive bays, the Survivor is undeniably a solid choice—just don't be intimidated by the uncooperative standoffs. There are cheaper enthusiast cases around, like the Antec One Hundred, but the $109 Survivor is more compact, more portable, and more feature-packed.

For a cheaper alternative, the $89 Survivor Core isn't a bad step down. You only lose USB 3.0 connectivity, fan LEDs, and BitFenix's S2 cable-locking scheme, none of which are really crucial.

What about more serious enthusiasts who spend a decent chunk of their day hands-deep inside their PCs? Because the Survivor is a compact LAN party case, and especially because of the aforementioned problem with the side panels, you're probably best off looking elsewhere. A roomier, full-sized enthusiast chassis with easy-to-remove side panels, like Corsair's Graphite Series 600T, is undeniably a better purchase for a die-hard tweaker's stationary gaming PC.

That's about all there is to it. As I said in the original Survivor review, BitFenix is definitely a player to watch. I can now add that the company's diligence when dealing with negative feedback bodes well for future products, too.