I got mine in 2006, nine days after the system was released. Due to a family engagement, I was unable to buy the system the night of launch. But it probably worked out to my advantage, because I understand a lot of people were turned away that night, even after waiting several hours in line to get one.
Anyways, my buddy Mark (hat tip again, chief) happened to walk into GameStop immediately after a shipment of four arrived. The store only allowed one per customer, so he called a buddy who lived close by to serve as my buying proxy. Afterwords, he called me up, we made the exchange, and the rest is history.
How about you?