I agree with Mark. I'd also like to add this: by releasing an older client, wouldn't that make the actual RELEASE client look so much better?

Considering that Funcom basically defined the concept of "Bad Launch" with AO back in the day, by performing this "bait and switch" it makes them look like they've worked their asses off in the 11th hour to "fix" all the issues that the beta client had.

All me a conspiracy theorist, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had a polished client that no one has seen.