The game launched on Saturday when every single person who bought the game was able to 'log in.' Early Access would've meant a specific population had entrance rights over another. That 'other' group didn't even buy the game, thus not giving the other group a 'special' consideration. Do you think a massive group of people are going to be joining the game on Tuesday? If they've been reading the forums about all of the server issues, than your answer is already answered. But even if the game went super-well, you wouldn't of seen a mass entrance as everyone who wanted this game has already bought it.
This is a simple marketing mechanic that makes someone feel 'good' and 'special' when they acquire it, thus encouraging people to buy it. Yes, you were all duped if you thought you were getting bonus content. This is basically a shirt at the mall being "on sale" for $15 for a "limited time" and with a "regular price" of $50 when the store never had a hope of selling it at that price. You also see that "sale" price everything you come in. Or they just take it off the shelves for 3 weeks and put it back out as a new sale. Marketing people. It's not evil, but stop thinking you're in some 'special' consideration zone of the game when all it is the actual Launch.
The sad fact is the game has been down (for people with normal jobs) almost the same amount of time it's been up. If if you count the time people have been unable to progress their characters... Well, you have seriously wasted some time this weekend, heh.