I think this view gives CO waaay to much unearned credit. If they are holding out, I think it is only until theya re able to guage how far they can push loyal customers before there is a backlash that affects their bottom line. Then they will roll out some "improvement", designed to placate.
channa's quote deals with redesigning BF. CO is not going to announce anything until it is ready to go with it. To do otherwise will result in disappointing a great many customers. Look at UA. They announced new seats and none were available on *any* flight. How many people looked at the ads and bought tickets expecting the new seat? I bet there were quite a few... I'd expect a newly updated BF offering at the time the 787 is introduced.