Here in Australia last September I got $0 out the door and US$35 a month for 24 months for my 128GB SE. I get the impression that I'm paying the Australia Tax, but I'm on a carrier plan because I had a bad experience buying outright (a Sony Z5 Compact. A replacement was unavailable forever - all they could offer to me was a much bigger and mediocre flagship XZ).
But I didn't wait. I found with the SE that I had waited too long already to decide on it - since last March. Happy owner here.
There are too many unknowns with the next model if there is one.