You're comparing apples and oranges. My iPhone has fallen onto pavement a few times as well with only minor dings. sillysaurus's wife's phone fell off a countertop, which probably indicates it was in a kitchen, which usually has tile floors. Tile floors are far more likely to result in a smashed device than any other type of floor, including concrete, so it's not surprising that there's a difference here.
Why is tile more likely to break a screen than concrete, out of curiosity? I'll admit I only ever dropped a watch onto tile and it did break the internals.
> Tile floors are far more likely to result in a smashed device than any other type of floor, including concrete, so it's not surprising that there's a difference here.
My theory is that a counter-top or kitchen floor is more likely to have debris on it, generating a pressure point on the glass and causing it to crack.
I've dropped my 4S on flat surfaces (bricks, concrete) with no real issues. I dropped my old 4 two weeks in on the pavement, on a tiny rock, and the back shattered (Apple fixed it for free; otherwise it was AUD$39).
