I am still hopeful for a Level 5/6 multiclass Half-Orc Bard/Cleric

That's basically setting yourself for guaranteed disappointment.
Well, if one of the things mentioned (and maybe an increased party limit) comes with the next patch, I'll be happy. ;-) But that's probably just as naive as some hope the release will be in mid or late 2023...

They confirmed 2023 release few weeks/months ago I believe. Which officially makes it the first release date they confirmed.
12 months is a large window. I will give you that.
I already knew that, but it's not a guarantee. How often has it happened in the video game industry that it was said: For reason X we are postponing the release... Of course I would be very happy if I'm wrong, especially with BG 3 I want to lose myself in this game. But let's see which game comes first... (I'm also waiting for Diablo 4, Dragon Age 4, Hogwarts Legacy etc. but in the end I only have time for one game). I have the odd thought that it can also happen because other popular game series might come out in the same year (possibly 2023?) that Larian then decides to postpone his own release...
Well, if one of the things mentioned (and maybe an increased party limit) comes with the next patch, I'll be happy.
To elaborate: there's a very remote chance we'll see the level cap raised to 5 (but I wouldn't count on it) while it's basically a given that neither new races nor multiclassing will make it in the next patch (and at this point I doubt in EA at all).
Lesser testing time for me then. But lets see what will happen... Maybe there is another interesting stuff e. g. deities...