This paragraph from the article explains it, really.

On the 3rd of March Ubisoft Massive revealed that there wouldn’t be pre-release reviews due to the online-centric nature of the game and the difficulty in replicating the live environment, as opposed to a simulated one. Some may recall this same thing happening with another online-centric game called Destiny that itself is being heavily compared with The Division. Due to the MMO aspects of the game, developers have a hard time simulating how populated the live environment would be come full release to the masses.

It only makes sense. It is being reviewed for the masses, after all.

Don't really trust Ubisoft much these days, but for this game it kind of makes sense.

Personally, if I was planning on buying the game, I'd just wait for the reviews anyway (unless I had played the beta and enjoyed it a lot or something).

I agree with your reasoning.

I don't really think there would be much of an opportunity to cut meaningful content between the Beta and the release - only add or transform it - so taking part in a Beta will give a consumer a pretty good idea of what they'll be getting themselves into. Unless of course barely anything is added after the Beta (aka SWBF) in which case a beta is a PERFECT indication of what you will pay $80 for lol

Furthermore the Beta allowed many people to Twitch stream it, which was further exposure.

Yes
The game has had an alpha and two betas.

If you're that worried, you don't have to buy it on day one. Really not an issue.

We've been duped again.

1 hour into the game. A total mess.

No story. Boring gameplay. Crap world design / mission select process. The only interesting thing is the dark zone, but its boring unless you prepare to be a loot whore.

"The Division was always designed to be a seamless online experience."

There's your answer.

Rather wait for some reviews and read their insights.

I will have a better idea tomorrow...

They had multiple betas before release, a couple of which were very easy to get into.

Personally if there were no beta, I would have not bought it day one. But I enjoyed both betas I played, and that matters infinitely more than review scores. Reviewers gave Destiny mid 7's IIRC. I'd have given it a 6 at best. Reviewers can rarely be trusted, but even more so with games like The Division.