Everyone, I really think this entire post has gotten out of hand. I work as a senior accounts director for a credit card processor. Now, not saying that all processors are the same, the laws and legal rights of customers when making any kind of purchase prior to the official release of a product is very clear. Anytime an item is purchased prior to the release of the offical product, the buying customer can withdraw his pre-order/pre-purchase and get a full refund. If any benifits or extra items/features were provided to the customer with a value, that said value can be back charged to the buying customer from the company in question for the value of the extra features, but not for the value of the full product.

So what does this all mean?? It means that any place you pre-ordered this game is required to provide a refund if they pre-charged you, as long as you contact and request the refund prior to the official release date. Since the early access is not considered a buyable item/feature, then it doesn't have a value, and no company can try to charge you for the early access, even if you cancel now. On another note, I got my pre-order from Amazon, which I can (and already have) canceled it, due to all these issues, and I'm waiting till after the release to see how the game goes. Amazon had my order canceled, and the final charge will not be processed to my card. This is why I always use a 3rd party company to purchase pre-orders, and I would recommended the same, because they always provide an ability to cancel with no questions asked.

Also, to add to all this. Anyone that says you can't get a refund, or that SE won't provide it, or aren't required to provide it, I ask.. have they provided a "FULL" CD key allready, or only the pre-order key? If they didn't provide the Full game key (which I dont know if they do when purchasing directly from them) then you haven't been provided what you purchased, which is the full game, which means you can always cancel. You tell me one store (online or offline) that states you have to pay for the product, and you don't get the product in return.. and that you can't cancel it. Even computer companies (dell, hp, sager, etc) offer a full return offer. some of them 7days, some 10days, and some 30days.. the point is that all companies offer it, because it's illegal for a company to take your money for an item, before the item is fully released, and not provide a refund option.