BDF, I absolutely agree that while under the warranty period (or extended) that this detail (and all other valid issues) should be taken care of without hassle and with a smile. But I'm thinking that perhaps this unit's design parameters are going to exhibit the same behavior and this is perhaps what they are now starting to realize, thus the perceived change on how they are changed out. While I really like this feature I will not pay $300+ to replace them when I'm out of warranty, but I might just try to solder in a new battery, and if that doesn't work then again it won't be a game changer for me.
But, the big variable here seems to be the dealer that calls it in, just how he describes it and evidently the other factor is who the dealer rep talks to at mama Kaw. And just maybe the "status" of the dealer that calls it in comes into question as well, as I do know that some dealers are flagged as "dubious" when they fail to follow warranty policies properly (holding the faulty parts for X amount of time, for one example). At least that is what Bill at American Honda told me during the last century.