I am a fairly casual player, but I have been burned enough in the past, that I now read what I am buying. Of the 4 places for preorders, it seems 2 seperated out the "preorder" from the actual preorder package. Thus you prob. got the game cheaper than those of us that got into the "head" start.
Is it fair? NO, but I would blame Circuit City and the other store (Best Buy I think) for being sneaky, and not cryptic. But hey that is just my 2 cents