Hasn't the beta testing period lasted for an unusual long time? I once beta tested a game, Stronghold 1, and I don't think we were going on for much more than 3-4 months or so.
Did that game:
A) Have more than one coder?
B) Have lots of in-house testing done beforehand?
C) Have non-moddable gameplay/physics?
D) Lack fanatical beta testers?
The testers were pretty dedicated, but the game was, of course, rushed out the door long before beta testing was done. I'd just think the same would have happened to SEV, being a small company at the mercy of big developers, etc.