They should make people like me beta testers because I hate everything so if I think something is good then it must be good.

The only thing I don't hate is corn pops.

regardless of who is and isn't in the beta, they need to actually listen to the beta testers this time... 

I disagree with allowing all of us to beta test it through a public beta - especially as an Impulse default. Many players have drawn a line in the sand at version 1.1 and a public beta at this stage would just add grief to an already frustrated and unforgiving market. I think Stardock would lose even more customers.

I really think the people who've stuck through with this so far are ready for new toys, and have put up with enough bugginess that a little more won't bother them.

I think that releasing the beta as a "show beta version" option is a good idea. It can be a win/win for everyone.

I feel the beat  for 1.1 should be an option for all current owners of a license to run 1.09 (or 1.09E).  However, I think the SD team should also give us some guidence, at various points, about what they wish us to test, how to report it, etc.  I have no problem with the design team saying to me.  Set up the game this way, with test this set of options, check on these <fill in the blank> things.

I agree, it should be open to all via the show beta option. But it should be guided and focused at key points. They should set up a sub forum with threads dedicated to the important things they want tested and have thread specific replys,crashlogs etc in said threads. Then they should have a general misc thread for general stuff and discusion.