Really? How is announcing an open playtest and actually demoing the prototype game at a con NOT reaching out to fans? I'm seeing the opposite of what you're describing.
I think the NDAs are really rubbing some people the wrong way. I can sympathize even if I'm not really in agreement. So far we've gotten:
1. "Hey, we're making a new edition! We want your feedback and we're having OPEN playtesting!"
2. "Hey, we've got public playtesting here at DDXP! It's really great, all you have to do is come to Fort Wayne (no thanks) and sign an NDA! That's right, a whole bunch of people are playing and they can't tell you anything about it!"
3. "Hey, we had a great public paytest, so glad you could all come out. As for the rest of you (who are the vast majority), well we're still not telling you anything except the vast majority of your speculation is wrong."
We're an instantanious society. If you say you're going to give us something it had better be downloadable yesterday. It's also that for a supposed "open/public" playtest, very few people have been privy to anything. *shrugs*