My opinion: they could have started the game with 5e rules, and then if playtest identified that changes must be made then a rationale could have been provided. And then we could have playtested the new rules.
Yeah or they could have done it like they did but made quick test sessions for "small" changes. Like 1 or 2 weeks with shove as an action, with jump decouple to disengage and so on... Then a survey + analyse of their data and it was done.
I don't get why they waited 1 year to change / allow us to test the game without backstab, with highground +2 rather than advantage and with a proper jump/disengage mechanic... EA would have been a lot less frustrating with "regular" small playtest sessions.
