I wonder if the beta testers are the same people who helped to futureproof the PS3:
http://www.ps3news.com/playstation-3-psn-news/sony-playstation-3-is-future-proof-will-last-longer-than-ps2/
Or, it isn't a release, but an escape, just like their marketing strategy pre-E3. In this, they just do it, and then find out later on that they made some mistakes.
Or, can go with the line of: "Microsoft admits consumers are beta testers!"
This deserves a top 10 list by David Letterman, read by Adam Orth.