Why didn't this happen in the US?

Apparently, EB Games stores in Australia are returning all remaining stocks of Xbox 360 consoles due to a rash of hard drive problems.

Several sources are reporting this: here | here | here

If this is true, was our U.S. invasion of "rings-o-death" not worthy enough for the same treatment?

I count my self lucky... I've had two perfectly working 360's (knock on wood).

Seems like the post-E3 news for Microsoft has been rather harsh... especially after this.