It's not just a phone. It's a $600 device. If you bought a new car and the dealer said "We went ahead and let the girl scouts down the street wash it with their stone infested rags", you wouldn't be pleased either. When he said the dude removed the coverings and slid it across the table I cringed. Some of the "unboxing" stuff isn't a big deal to me, but that's a hobby for some people.
OP should have spoken up, but calling him names is a little silly. When you buy a product you expect to have control over how it's handled and used.
Look, you might value something different that I do. I value great design and great experiences. In this case, Apple has designed a great user experience with a new product. If you believe that the iPhone is just a phone, then I don't think you can appreciate the thought that goes into each and every piece.
I think that Apple has personally touched me because it's values resonate so well with my own. To create things that are simple and wonderful to use, thought through to every minor detail. The careful precision that you don't really get with any other smartphone maker at the moment.
When the iPhone is treated a coffeetable book in front of the owner entering a 2 year contract and paying $200-$400 dollars, don't you see the harm in that?
Part of what makes Apple so great is that it holds itself and the companies it does business with to a higher standard. I don't want to see that standard slip. Even this AT&T rep, who was obviously not very good.. could have been given some guidelines to follow that would improve the experience for everyone.
OP should have spoken up, but calling him names is a little silly. When you buy a product you expect to have control over how it's handled and used.