Tezos holding on to your contributions under 0.1 XBT

If you contributed to the Tezos 'fundraiser' with amounts lower than 0.1 Bitcoin (XBT), you are in for a long wait. At least a lot longer than many of us expected.

There I was, on the first day of the Tezos fundraiser, anxious and ready to invest my small capital in Tezos. I heard and read good stories about the concept and was itching to invest. The enthusiasm quickly waned though when I told my 'mildly' wealthier friend about my contribution. His reply was instant:
"Didn't you read the requirements for the investments? The minimum is 0.1 XBT and lower amounts are considered as a gift!"

I was shocked and quickly realized I was one of 'those people' who didn't do their research properly before investing.
"Don't worry though," my friend said, "as long as you get the total amount above 0.1 Bitcoin you should be fine."

Enter stupid mistake #2. I sent another transaction lower than 0.1 XBT to make the total above the threshold. All in all I now invested 0.11 XBT, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Aside from the fact that the amount of 'Tezzies' I would receive was incorrect, which was another issue during the fundraiser, I was not a 100% sure about the validity of the combined investments. Eventually my concern turned out to be justified.
Due to the high execution costs of the Bitcoin transactions, all transactions under the threshold were indeed deemed invalid. However in case you did the total Etherium equivalent of the 0.1 XBT value, the transactions were considered valid, regardless the amount of transactions required. As long as they were from the same public address you would be good.
Great, as I used Bitcoins, now I had two invalid transactions...

Luckily Tezos came with the following announcement on several media, this one is taken from Reddit:

"While the contribution terms state that contributions of less than 0.1 XBT are non-refundable, we intend to return such contributions, minus the related transaction costs. We will investigate the best way of doing so, after the fundraiser is over."

Naturally I was relieved. Sure they would subtract the transaction costs but the remaining XBT would be returned.
Or would it? ...

Tezos responded to my question if we could get our XBT back in the next few days:

"No, I'm sorry. It'll happen after the fundraiser. We don't have the capacity to do that now."

Fair enough, they had a USD 200 Mln fundraiser to coordinate and I was, together with the other lets say less fortunate (or if you want to be harsh dumb) investors, 'small potatoes'.

After the fundraiser I naturally contacted them again as there was no formal communication about it. Their response on when it would be transferred back?

"We will soon make an announcement about the process of refunds for contributions to the fundraiser under the minimum."

And a few days later:

"That's all the information I have for you regarding this right now. If you follow us on social media, Reddit, email, you'll see it."

And when pressed once again due to the fact I and probably most investors want their coins returned prior to 1st of August:

"We're building the software to securely and efficiently make refunds, and will make an announcement when it is ready, but I do not have a time estimate to share at this time. Sorry to disappoint you here."