You and wildrhythms are asking, "How is a demo different than refunding?" 1. A demo is a promotional product. It has to have emotional beats that culminate in

You and wildrhythms are asking, "How is a demo different than refunding?" 1. A demo is a promotional product. It has to have emotional beats that culminate in strong desire for more and a call to action to "Buy now!" The unedited first X-minutes of a game is unlikely to hit those beats. 2. A demo should be like a chocolate box, filled with delightful surprises, sampling the game. The first X-minutes of your game should be like a gentle hike into the woods, easing the player into the game's setting, mechanics, etc. 3. Refunding requires purchasing then taking action to reverse course. Furthermore, that action isn't entirely comfortable for many. That is, most people are honest and don't want to abuse refunds. A demo works in the opposite manner.