there are multiple places online where you can buy boxes now. This would just make it easier for LEGO and the customer. Especially with their knowledge of the demand from Series 1, right away they should have planned for a higher production run. I don't think that CHina would have trouble keeping up, if LEGO initially made a big enough order, the problem before was they didn't know the demand and were understocked to begin with.
This is all wishfull thinking and I understand the downside to what I'm suggesting.