I just placed my first ever order with them and am really looking forward to it. Not to the wait, of course, but it sounds like the payoff is well worth it. I have to say, for such a boutique type vendor, the prices are really good. I have been eying a couple of sites along the same lines of quality and not only do those others not offer samples, the prices are much higher. So, I have high hopes that I will like what I get AND be able to afford to keep things well-stocked.
Oh and it can't hurt their marketing that they shut down for a time to get orders out. It creates a great dose of anticipation. Smart move, AIV.