iOS 18.2 waitlist theory
After thinking about it, the long wait for iOS 18.2 is probably related to the server-side Apple Intelligence headroom they’re trying to no exceed. Explaining why they released 18.2 beta 1 before the official 18.1 release so they can make a first wave of iOS 18.2 users, release 18.1 to public and manage the peak of use it produces so when things calm down they have headroom for a second wave of 18.2 users, gradually scaling up the infrastructures needed for those services.