Actually, the message ("Your passcode is required to enable Face ID") was identical to the message when too many failed Touch ID attempts are made, not when a phone is rebooted ("Touch ID requires your passcode when iPhone restarts").

Still, at least I didn't notice, and probably the average user didn't either, which makes it just look as a major blooper. I loved the phone though.

at least he knew the password and wasn't relying on the face recog to get into the phone, that could have been rough

IIRC he didn't use the passcode, they switched over to a backup phone.

For presentations like these you always have multiple devices standing by, ready to flip over to at a moment's notice.

I'm pretty sure the backup phone had an imitation of Face ID unlocking.

How are you "pretty sure" about that?