The plans were finalized. The Kickstarter was the plan.

And they were always up front about the fact that the physical copies of the books in the Kickstarter would be premium hardcover copies, and consequently more expensive than a typical hardback.

If you wanted something more affordable, there was the ebook only tier for $10 per book.

I also don't get how this is trying to appeal to 'FOMO' when they made it clear that the books would likely be available through a traditional publisher sometime after the books went out to backers. Just because they couldn't guarantee it at the time doesn't mean they were trying to manipulate you into getting something you didn't want.