I guess I look at the santa comment differently than everyone else, I see how some could take it as a christmas release, but what if what axl really meant, assuming any of this even took place, which i'm still not to sold on, is that, like santa claus, it does not exist and or is dead. But i guess i'm a glass half empty kinda guy.
remember at the Europe show in 2002 when Axl was whistling some Christmas Carol between songs and everyone took that to mean "cd will be out by xmas! axls telling us!!"
i think its the same things..