Once it lands, you get grumbling customers. Waiting to release might frustrate some consumers, but if you ultimately deliver a substantial product it generally seems like it pays off... people will (eventually) return if they angrily stomped away. However, look no further than Sword Coast Legends to see what happens when you undeliver on an initial product offering. Even if Sword Coast Legends is good now, the initial backlash surely did it in.
I'd love to have access ASAP, I'd love to start modding now. But I'd rather get a clean, polished product.
Launching the mod editor at or soon after release, however, is important, I agree with that. The longer you wait, the fewer players stick around. Only a chunk of those players would return with mod tools release, and if they aren't enough to "talk up" the game's mods, then it can't catch a second traction.
