Why does everyone assume piracy? If the game is to be released on the 26th, why aren't people assuming that some store is setting up a display unit to be played?
This close to release, I see no reason to assume piracy or incomplete bits. The CD's do not burn themselves and then jump in the box.
What store sets up demo kiosks for a
*PC* game?
Most stores get games just a day or two before the street date, and there are large stickers on the box that say "DO NOT SELL BEFORE XXXXX". Granted with a Tuesday street date, Friday was probably their receipt date. Monday might be cutting it too close.
However, when I worked at
Babbage's in college, we
*ALWAYS* respected street date, and my local Gamestop stores respect it now. Stores can face fines for breaking street dates.
Remember how many people got Spore before the retail release in "defiance" of the overbearing DRM? That wasn't a break in street-date, that was piracy. All things considered, piracy is the more likely reason (compounded by the fact the OP has posted again), especially further you get from the street date.