The extension has been given because Google initially gave something daft like 6 weeks notice for them to re-write the necessary bits of the email client to continue working.
Google then extended that a little and now some more. MS are confident of getting a fix in place by the year end.
I have a Nokia Lumia 925 and its brilliant. Have been using WP since 7 came out and won’t be moving to Android (which I’ve used extensively) and iOS (which I’ve had enough experience of to know I don’t ever want it to darken my life).
EDIT – With regards to playing with one in a shop, try and see if one of the staff have one that is linked to some accounts (f/book etc) as you lose such a large amount of the experience if you play with a phone that is not set up.
Cheers
Danny B