I  bought the limited edition directly from Stardock, pre-order.  I understand the confusion and problem with retailers not honoring the release date.  I appreciate all the work Stardock personnel are doing to make the game available for those that helped in Beta and us pre-order folk.

I am very disappointed to hear that had I gotten a limited version from Best Buy or Walmart, I'd have gotten some additional quests for the game that I am not getting.  Marketing bait and switch tactics like this really cause me to rethink my position on a company.

I was going to pick up a couple copies and gift them to some friends I game with, figuring it be a fun game we could all play.

"Was" is the key verb here.

I will not recommend products from companies that play such marketing games were product is dependant on where its purchased.  Someone in a different thread mentioned a drill.  If I buy a particular Milwaukee power drill I expect it to function the same and have the same features regardless of where I purchase it.

My Guildmates from MMOs and my friends will have to find out about Elemental from some other source than me.

Stardock has indicated some time in some future they plan to make the exclusive Retailer specific content available to everyone. Should I ever decide to try one of their products again it would be at some future time well after the products release so I do not feel that I have been played the fool for where I choose to buy their product.