They call it a "beta" to have a scapegoat for mistakes. I have heard nothing about them relaunching the blockchain and wiping the table clean when the beta is over so this isn't just a beta it's also a production system with real money on the line. Those aren't beta bitcoins buying up Steem.

I think I see the word "beta" being used a lot here as some kind of jedi mind trick to get people to not make such a big deal over real issues but this isn't a true beta it's a quasi-beta hybrid.