There was a beta testing period to develop the game engine and ensure that the game was viable (i.e. there isn't a trivial solution, it's interesting to work on, etc.). There have been some fairly significant changes in the objectives from most of the beta, so that should help level the playing field somewhat.
It's regrettable that the beta did last so long; this has to do mostly with the up-and-down nature of the time volunteers had to work on the project (they have school and work).
