Beta testing is definitely not an early chance to play the full game (well maybe it is for some, but they quickly drop away). The attrition ratio is high, but that is how new blood gets added as DEG and Geo pointed out. In fact, that is how myself, [D]aynarr and [M]ephisto got into the beta last time, due to drop-outs. It is an incredible amount of work but is very rewarding experience when taken seriously (and heck you get your name in the credits
I easily put several hundred hours last time around (I still have tons of spreadsheets, whitepaper suggestions, etc. on my system from the last beta test) without ever finishing a game - and that is not even counting modding time or the time to get the mods together for the gold disk. Sorry - did not mean to preach. I really need to find an avatar, perhaps a palm tree or something...