Since the event, I believe now that they truly want to release it once's it has been thoroughly tested and as stable as possible. Surely they would have wanted to release it the day of the event to get more momentum out of it. But since they decided to hold off, it seems clear that they want to make sure they get it right. So it's just a guessing game at the moment and it will come out when it's ready, that's just my take on it. Hopefully it comes out before the weekend. We'll see as soon as Gabe does one of his usual tweet hints.
And why NOT the desktop version? The entire point behind Windows 10 is that it is for everything - nothing locked to specific devices or form-factors (which is why WOA is in hot water). Those that are used to things being platform-locked don't like it because they are used to playing platforms against each other. Developers, on the other hand, love it because it's like the old song about New York (City) - if I code for Windows 10, it will work on every Windows 10 platform. CORE (Code Once/Run Everywhere) and WORE (Write Once/Run Everywhere) has been the Holy Grail of all programming for "how long"? The issues with both are those that have a vested interest in making sure it can't happen - and a lot of those WITH that vested interest had Microsoft as a partner (either willing or silent). Now, Microsoft is actually on the other side - in FAVOR of CORE and WORE - hence all the screams. (Applesauce and rice all over the place.) It's a major paradigm-changer - not merely a game-changer.
It's not about being over sensitive, I just wanted to point out that there is always a lot of ambivalence in their statements, and that you can interpret a phrase in this or that way. And "supported through the lifetime of the device" sounds a little suspicious to people who usually don't go into a store and buy ready-made machines via the consumer channel, which come preinstalled with the latest Windows version anyways, but maybe build their own desktop PCs from the ground up or get a leased business notebook, tablet etc. without any OS preinstalled and like to reuse the license from another machine instead of unnecessarily having to buy a new one. TL;DR I just ask for clear and precise statements.
Normally I'd agree with you on the wording. It does seem suspect. But in this case, I think its just a way of making it clear that you don't get 'Just One Year For Free' 'Cos I've seen lots of people taking it as though its a Subscription.
I can help with the retail side of things if you need non-KMS activated setups. Just pop me a PM when and if you need.
I was going to try Daz Loadering it, after all 99% of people with Windows 7 have it because they bought a PC with it, so I can't imagine them excluding OEM SLIC 2.X users. But we have to get to RTM first. I'm patiently waiting for RTM of the next VS and Office. The stuff floating around as "Office 16" is completely useless to me, nothing new to investigate activation wise, etc.
With the Win8 $14.99 offer they required a Retail/COA key as proof - if that is the case again, dunno what the guys with faded stickers are gonna do...