I agree with @steve23094 - the review *is* no longer relevant because anyone who got one will either be very happy with it (like me) or will have returned it, and anyone who was holding off buying one will probably be happy to wait a bit longer for the next revision in a few months (probably).
I'm using mine to type this message and I can safely say it is the absolute best machine I have ever used and although I can get the fans to spin up when playing some demanding 3D games, or even some heavy non-game processing tasks, the sound is not unpleasant and in some ways helps to justify the upgrade I chose to the 4.0GHz CPU and faster GPU. The logic being that, if the fans never spin up then I probably won't be seeing the benefit of that faster CPU.
I use my computer for my livelihood and I work on a day rate (development consultant) so if I have to wait a few seconds less each time I do a compile or run my test suite then that has a tangible, cumulative advantage. Also, having so many pixels to play with lets me optimise my workflow without needing multiple displays. Finally, the screen quality is invaluable at avoiding potential eye strain after 8-12 hours sitting in front of it each day.
My advice to anyone considering an iMac is to go see one in person and spend a decent amount of time with it (say an hour). Take some of your own content with you if possible and make sure you play with the various screen resolutions starting from "Default" and then trying out each of the "Scaled" settings to see how these can allow you to see more content per screen or less content but better clarity.
I would strongly advise getting the faster GPU and budget for adding in some more RAM later if you become RAM constrained. The CPU upgrade is really only for people for whom time is money for the most part. The storage options are a lot more complex to decide on and anyone who tells you what to buy without talking to you is giving poor advice in my opinion. I got the 1TB SSD but only because I use this machine for work and expect it to last me 3-5 years before I replace it. Over that timescale I will get a return on that investment due to cumulative time saved I hope. It was a tough decision though. Generalising for a moment, I'd say if you can live within 512GB then get the 512GB SSD but otherwise the 1TB or 3TB Fusion options are probably better. That said, it comes down to a delicate balance of speed, capacity and cost and you really need to think carefully and ideally discuss with someone who has been there and faced that decision. Feel free to PM me if I can help you to decide but it must be your decision.
I hope the above helps anyone who comes to this thread expecting a review!
