I'd like to know what constitutes as regular wear-and-tear and abuse. Apple needs to understand that a watch is worn on the wrist. They even said themselves that it's the most personal device they've ever created. Unless you work in an industrial environment where you dip your wrist in chemicals or into spaces with lots of sharp things, it's hard to "abuse" a watch worn on the wrist. Sure you can accidentally rub the screen on a wall, or drop the watch on concrete; these are all typical accidents that any watch face that should not be covered by warranty. But a peeling watch band after several days of ownership? Not to mention, it is advertised as a sport band.
Here is the internal Apple document referred by broadbean. Thanks.
http://9to5mac.com/2015/04/24/apple-watch-damage-covered-warranty/
http://9to5mac.com/2015/04/24/apple...rmation-of-sport-and-leather-bands-over-time/
Yeah I think that part of this system is very flawed. It's up to the Genius rep that you get, and as demontrated above from your conversation can really throw off the entire proccess based on one person at Apple.
I think that if its marketed as a "sport" band than obviously people will be doing more intensive workouts or even just daily activities with it. Either make it more durable or clearly define what is not regular wear-and-tear. I haven't bothered to get any other bands besides one additional sport band because when a newer model comes out, there is no guarentees that it is going to be compatible. Even though I would love to pick up a ML or LL.