But wasn't there like a beta "craze" up until a few years ago? Like when Gmail launched, Google Buzz and a many other sites and services that are long forgotten

But wasn't there like a beta "craze" up until a few years ago? Like when Gmail launched, Google Buzz and a many other sites and services that are long forgotten by now. It certainly can work if the product is really attractive. But my suspicion is, that standing in line for an underwhelming experience might even amplify negative effects as the personal investment to gain that knowledge was substantially higher.