You guys should talk about specific v27 functionality in the v27 beta forum. We are on reply 120ish on this thread and stuff is liable to get lost!
In fact a lot of this is off topic. The status is we are in beta, we are confident this will be a short beta, and will probably release in like 3 weeks. Don't quote me I haven't asked dev, but everything is looking pretty good.
Going to lock this thread, start a new one on the status question if you wish and let's take the other discussions to the 27 beta forum.