I am just repeating what I have heard in the past. I am not sure what the actual realities are now. I am pretty sure in many cases they just turn in the card too, rather than have any involvement in the process.
In terms of his actual criticism, parts of it I agree with, parts I disagree, but I do not think that the M8 would make a good combat camera. That said, I don't think that disqualifies it from being a professional tool. While it makes superb images, it does it on its own terms. Like Marc, Charles and others, my camera has not been reliable and it has spent a lot of time in the shop. This is a bad thing, and if they come out with a camera that is less buggy, full frame, and IR free, with easier to set ISO, faster startup (something that turns on without you having to press the shutter down halfway too), consistent AWB, and an SD card door like most other cameras, and framelines sized for 2m rather than .7, then I will be very happy. I like the idea of a digital rangefinder enough to work around these problems, but there is no getting around the fact that the M8 does not have the responsiveness and refinement of the latest generation of pro digital SLR's like the D3.
I really wish that Nikon and Leica would team up and produce a digital rangefinder with Nikon's technology and Leica's lenses and RF experience. I know that that is 99.99999% unlikely to happen, but it would be nice, nonetheless.
In its absence, I would love it if they just made a full frame M8 (9?) without IR problems, along with some of the refinements I mentioned above. And while I liked the retro styling, I would rather that it have some sort of grip -- even molded rubber like on the Hexar RF gives a much better grip with heavy lenses. I use a half case now, but I would rather not have to.