Zen -
http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/02/05/how-to-spot-a-falcon-65nm-360-in-the-wild/
That explains, perfectly, how to check the label on the box to find out the exact Falcon-Ready info you need, to ensure you buy a Falcon without opening the box. It's pretty simple (atleast from my perspective).
And as to the question of "will there be a more reliable X360 than the Falcon?" absolutely. Although everyone is upset that it took until the Falcon to squash the majority of RROD problems, MS has had 3 distinct re-designs:
#1. Initial batch of horridly faulty X360s.
#2. 2nd Heatsink/HDMI Models in Mar/Apr. 2007 (still faulty, but less than #1s)
#3. Falcon Batch. Best model to date.
However, the 360 still uses 90nm technology in some areas. This causes extra heat to build up, allowing for the system to still overheat (but not nearly as bad as Gen 1 and Gen 2 systems).
Microsoft has been rumored to come out with the new systems around the same time the Falcons came out last year - or August. Those should have complete 65nm archatecture, and be cheaper (as the Falcon's brought in the most recent wave of pricecuts. Jaspers, the next codename, will incredibly decrease the costs, making an August pricecut seem inevitable).
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
