> my iPad would die in a couple days if left unplugged.

Something wrong with your iPad then. All three of mine would easily hold a charge for more than 2 days even when turned on but unused (so asleep).

I think sometimes we should believe a vendor when they say "a small number of users were affected".

I doubt the OP is making stuff up, but all my iPads (including an original model) simply don't show any significant battery loss when left unused.

Mine loses maybe 20% over 2 weeks if unused.

Same