It has been shown by many tests, including in this very thread, that placing a single finger on an iphone 4 results in major signal attenuation. Measure it in bars, db, data speed, or dropped calls and it is there. No other phone I have seen or heard of has this issue from a SINGLE TOUCH. No other phone I have seen or heard of has external antennas with conductive surfaces. It is a valid conclusion to say that touching an iphone 4 antenna with bare skin will result in signal attenuation, which may result in a dropped call or slower data speed. In the real world it will depend on your signal strength, how sweaty your hands are, and other factors as to how much reduction, but the fact is the signal reduction will still be there to some extent.

As for saving face, the question about a single finger bridging the antennas was asked at the press conference and it was clearly sidestepped. Apple chooses to say the signal loss happens just like every other phone, which is true if you are blocking the signal. It is not true about placing a single finger on the antenna which is impossible with any other phone. If they have evidence that a single finger cannot result in a drop call, they did not state it. Nor did they admit that it does. My guess is that someone does not want to admit that they released a functionally flawed device because they wanted it to look nice.