Ok so I emailed the dealer with pics and the reply was that -
1) the distribution is 'not happy' that I took the sticker off because it is about the warranty of the frame and needs to be there to warn the user to read the manual blah blah blah. Dafuq, it's like saying one shouldn't take off the plastic guard behind the cassette when buying a full bike because it's for safety (ok at least that might ensure safety, compared to a huge ugly sticker asking you to read the manual)
2) someone or myself must have 'worked on' the frame to scrape that top tube lug paint off
3) sending it back for repair is costly so I should find someone to fix it locally and they and myself will share the cost of repair.
I told him that's a good idea but I'm not going to pay a share of it cost the biggest problem which is the paint flake at the lug is obviously a manufacturing defect. A local repair shop accepted the job at a reasonable price so hope that'll settle it.
Meanwhile, I am still waiting for my groupset and chainrings order to arrive. Sent my transferred Zipp bars and sanded Sram cranks for matte clear coat too.
Thought it was a little silly to use the different looking EE direct mount front/rear brakes but I saw this video
https://scontent.fsin4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5AD25718 and felt better about it now
Leaving the thread in the meantime till my frame comes back with this lovely pic -