Yep, it's just a case of ambiguity in the phrase . . .

". . . ship with a bootable CD-ROM" . . .

. . . which says that they were the first Macs to have that capability . . .

. . . nobody from that era would have thought it meant that the CD was anything but pricey optional equipment if that quote came from a trade mag.

Was the 840AV's CD an option? Was the TAM the first Mac ever to have a standard equipment CD?

edit: I think you're correct, my 840AV has a Caddy Loader, but was the CD-ROM drive stock?