I think the term "beta games" ist just another step inte generall degrading development studios, who normally aren't responsible for delivering the games in such a bad state, but instead the publishers are, due to their pressure(s) to release a game to certain dates (which, cynically put, often run parallel to report dates to shareholders).
In case of Divinity 1 for example rumor says that CDV Germany just didn't give them any money anymore. "Publish or perish" at its most literal state.
In my perception, the gamers who rant about the bad state of games are imho too often looking away from the responsibility (or guilt, in the case of games shipping in a bad state) of the publishers.
Instead, the same gamers fire their cannons of hatred against the developers, meanwhile the developers are nowadays too often squeezed among hammer & anvil.
Publishers are imho often not regarded as their should compared to their influence & might & money.
When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it. --Dilbert cartoon
"Interplay.some zombiefied unlife thing going on there" - skavenhorde at RPGWatch
