Hah! Good things come to those who wait. Amazon Japan randomly put up a new batch of pre-orders and I managed to get mine in (they're gone now, of course).

And @Gries He, to answer your question from a while back... The New 2DS XL has the same 4.88" screen as the other XL models. It might even be clearer, since my other 2DSes also give a nicer image than my original 3DS due to the lack of 3D functionality.

Of course, it's a "New" model, so it comes with Amiibo support, the additional analog nub, and the higher specs which allow for Xenoblade to run. At only 260 grams it's also significantly ligher than the 3DS XL (336g) and New 3DS XL (329g), and the new design makes it smaller and more compact with very little bezel.

If you think you'll still get some use out of it the coming years, it's actually a really good upgrade. Damn shame about the region-lockout, though... I'm gonna have to look in to what the 3DS piracy scene is like these days, because it's be a shame to get such a nice system and not being able to use it very much. I might just have to order a European system so I can transplant the motherboard. Then I can sell off the Japan/Europe-exclusive orange-white 2DS to an American, and the circle continues.