Backpedaling? hmm they're most certainly not denying an always online feature.
So it still doesn't make sense to address the feature as "always-online" if the final product will be just like current gen consoles , where "things expected to work offline, work offline". There's obviously something they're not telling. Take the "always on" feature for example, they make that claim to especifically differentiate the new console (which will have some sort of sleep mode) from the 360.
Also, the email sounds pretty vague for an employee only version. Unless of course it was given to bottom level employees to avoid another Deal-with-it fiasco, but even then it almost sounds made up.







