Oh yeah... I was still very much into console wars at the time it released, rooting for the Vita against the 3DS, haha.
I ended up importing it from HK to get it a few months (perhaps mere weeks even) before launch and I even made unboxings, reviews and news "coverage" on YT at the time. I loved that handheld to bits.
I don't have my day one console anymore, but I do still have one (hacked 2000 model, I'd love to get a Hori grip for it but those are way too expensive nowadays...).