I am all for everyone making some $$$ but this reaks of a corporate mandate to force VB developers to deliver something before the year-end to spur on some sales to positively affect the bottom line...
Most competent folks understand what an Alpha is... this VB5 release is not an Alpha... i think we would've all preferred screenshots instead...
However, we are all our own worst enemies... if VB released screenshots we would've hounded them for a release date etc etc....
VB never bows to forum/customer pressure to release something that is not ready but it looks like they bowed to corporate pressure...