No, the Definitive edition is usually free for those who have already purchased the game (it was with DOS2). Otherwise, you're right. And I really hope they fix it and address. Sucks we have to wait a year.
Let's hope that stays that way (when I bought DOS2 was already the DE).
Hopefully they released the mod tools sooner rather than later. That way at least, modders can really start making good mods.