iirc, that particular error was due to a mass manufacturing defect, or to that effect was the explanation I heard at the time.
Aside from the obvious frustration/worry I had at the time dealing with it (in my case getting lucky enough to get a burnt copy from a coworker that worked only once to finish the original/first install), it shouldnt be such a huge worry now as once you have the game discs (their code keys specifically) registered to the battle.net account, digitally downloading from then on, for whatever reason, is almost worry free.