I don't know if it were available immediately after the machine's initial release in 2021, but last month I was able to walk into my local Apple Store and purchase an M1 2021 16" 64 GB MBP with 4 TB SSD storage right off the shelf. And, yes, if I had just waited just a few weeks longer...the arrival of the M2 was more imminent than had been anticipated. C'est la vie. I'd already been waiting long enough and I needed what I needed at that time and I have no regrets about my purchase. The M1 with that configuration is a terrific machine!