If "they" really wanted to prove that they had it all going why only release one crappy image. If they did a whole heap like 20 then it would have taken ages to fake em all.
It seem strange they only released delay info a week b4 the supposed release. So that would support your idea. Gabe had said on numerous occasions something like "we'll see"m "it'll be close". But given valves record for releasing info it maybe they knew a while b4. And with recently gabe saying...