First, they just released a major patch yesterday for the game on the 1.0 client so no, Beta has not started. 1.0 client is supposed to come down when 2.0 Beta goes live; so as long as you can log into the current game you know beta has not started.

Quote Originally Posted by REDace0 View Post
You will, if the 2.0 beta doesn't start before you're billed for your third month.
and considering beta is slated to start in sept/oct that is highly unlikely. Which is supported by this:

we will be discontinuing the 90-day subscription option on Saturday, June 30, 2012.
found here:http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...scription-Plan

This would suggest that even if you started paying on June 30 it would be cutting it close to get legacy.

If the ONLY reason you were starting now is to get Legacy, I would just hold off for 2.0 since likely you will only get 1 or 2 months in before beta starts. However, the game is a LOT more fun now than it was back in December - January and if you can get leveled up fast enough there is a lot of end game content that can only be experienced pre-2.0 such as the Grand Company battle quests, primal fights in their current state, etc.