Alpha could technically be divided into two segments: late April to July, and July to September. Here's my random thoughts on the whole experience, good and bad:
The first part was pre-1.0 AA.
The second part of Alpha was a 1.2/library/whatever Trion felt like throwing in hybrid.
Random stuff:
I look back on alpha very fondly, but also acknowledge there were plenty of bad aspects to it too. Based on the lists there, does launch seem better or worse?