However, 'beta' IS the traditional word for this situation, it's just that Google (principally) has butchered and mutated the meaning of beta over the last few

However, 'beta' IS the traditional word for this situation, it's just that Google (principally) has butchered and mutated the meaning of beta over the last few years, to the point where people view 'beta' as meaning 'open to all, but no guarantees' (except when it comes to video game testing, there the traditional meaning of beta stands).