No its not really normal at all. I've bought a fair amount of REV.A goods directly after they were announced but they have always shipped at around the same timeframe as our transatlantic neighbors.
In this instance though it certainly appears to have been utterly segregated.
I just spoke to Apple in Cork, Ireland and they have been told a guideline of 8th Feb generally for shipping for customers who enquire. So basically it's looking like none of us will see shipping until after this forthcoming weekend...
We'll just have to make do with all the package opening pictures from the other side and feel more than a little envious
... This would be ... disgusting!!!