Bad design for Apple Online Store

I apologize in advance for ranting, but maybe, just maybe it can help in some small way. Yesterday I tried to buy a Developer membership at Apple.com. I have an account at the Apple Online store, it is the same account I use for iTunes, iChat etc. Apple calls this login an AppleID, and in theory it's a great idea. It means that I don't have to remember a different name and password for each Apple related account, they are all tied together. Parts of the system are even designed intelligently so that your email address doesn't have to be the same as your login id. This is actually essential since your AppleID may have been set up with an email address that you no longer have. Unfortunately all of Apple's systems aren't designed this intelligently. The Apple online store requires that your AppleID and your email address be the exact same thing. This means that either you need to create a new AppleID just for use with the Apple Store or you need to forgo getting email confirmations for purchases at the store. You may be able to live without email confirmations, but the real trouble comes when the product itself is shipped by email, as is the case for developer memberships. My developer program activation code was sent to an email address that doesn't exist.

Have I lost my $540? I hope not. I called Apple about the problem and although they weren't able to help me, they assured me that I would get the email within 24 hours. They didn't know what they were talking about since I still have not received the email. Unfortunately it's the weekend so all of the developer support people are at home, and everyone else is apparently not qualified to help.

Hopefully they will sort it out on Monday. Until then, I'm fit to be tied.