Just to add a little clarity to this back and forth over whether the game is considered launched or any other manner of finished product by various definitions. Quoting from last Live Letter, portion of it bolded by me for emphasis:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/64478
0:09:01
Q: When is Open Beta and Early Access?
A: Beta Test phase 4 will run from Saturday, August 17, until Monday, August 19.
Those who participated in the Beta Test phase 3 will be able to participate from Friday, August 16.

Early Access will begin on Saturday, August 24 and it will be possible to play straight into official service. We do not plan on conducting any maintenance in the period between Early Access and the start of official service. At some time on August 27, it will become possible to register the registration codes for the official release version. Also at that time, the pre-order bonus and Collector’s Edition bonus in-game items will be sent to users via the in-game delivery moogle.
Again... the game is supposedly launched for us with early access, as it is supposed to be the exact same version that will be available on 8/27 for the official global launch.

So, yes... we are being shut out from the actual game at this point. Not a Beta stage 5, not a freebie weekend for us to kick the tires for SE before official launch. For all intents and purposes, this version given to us on 8/24 was the official launch version and was our actual launch date.