After Beta, I would assume we have to purchase. The original Stardock Start8 started with a Beta then timed out and required purchase. Classic Shell is still best (free) option.
All we need now is something that will put back the alpha blended taskbar and program windows that were present in build 8400. Windows 8 looks vastly superior before Microsoft idiotically decided to remove this (to encourage people to use Apps instead, by making normal computer use more ugly).