What kind of issues?
The real question is does it work well enough to utilise. Little issues may
not be that big a deal. Particularly if we can document issues and clarify
what features are supported, what is being worked on, and what might never
get supported.
Just because every feature isn't available doesn't make it a bad move.
I think as long as the critical features work this is an incentive to buy
such a phone. You know where your money is going. It's going to support the
developers working on fixing your phone and develop a free software friendly
ecosystem. And the main feature after all is not the normal smart phone
features. It's the freedom.
I may not be developing for a smart phone, but I would certainly prefer a
phone that was catering to freedom, privacy, and at least basic support.
I think the fact some/many people have these already is an indicator that
there is demand. Well, we will see. I'm going to get one and see how things
go.