hmm....5th ed......
my biggest issue with this leak is that over the last 7 1/2 years i've been playing 40k i've seen only two consistancies with anything that GW puts out.
1. a pendulum swing.
2. lack of thought or quality playtesting.
my reason:
1. when gw releases a new rule set or codex its full bore for that army or game. there isnt much middle ground on the rules. either they are loved by those who can use and abuse them or hated for those who can't and feel they get used or abused by them.
2. gw has designers who are so inept at the game they design that they cant even win a game. come on folks no one out here who plays the game is that bad!! if you design it but you dont know how to play it doesn't that show you shouldn't have your job!!!!!!!!!
i think gw does purposefully leak release info to get some outside info. how ever i think they would be much better served by instead of leaking the info out to hear everyones b*tches and complaints or thier praises they should send the info to the local gw stores and battle bunkers and host special games using the new info and gamestore armies and record the info of how the games go. and they could ask the folks who participate to fill out a survey on the new rules/dex etc and then use that info to update the test rules to come up with something more balanced.
an i'm sorry ID but i disagree with your idea that games rules need a change to keep the game going. any rules that create issues or problems yes they need to be changed but if gw took some serious time to evaluate thier product and whats right/wrong with it and release the core rules and the different armies at the same time instead of over multiple years where the pendulum keeps swinging back and forth with overpowered then nerfed then reoverpoered and renerfed armies they would find thier loyal customers staying loyal and able to bring more folks into the game instead of discourgaging them by hearing "its nice you like that army but you better wait xx until the new dex is out to see if you still like them".
well thats just my $20s worth since i couldn't keep it short enough for $.02 worth...
in the end i'll still play 40k. i still play chaos after losing my favorite army but gaining big bonuses to my 2nd favorite. i'll still play yet i know so far the 1/4 of the guys i play with are saying they're done if these rules go to print.