My theory as to why Valve wouldn't release a demo early is because of how the game is being played and the storyline. After all, the other HL1 demo was a small piece of a part of the story of HL. People wouldn't have gotten why the satellite uplink had to have been made or why the military got the drop on us. (pun intended)
Would the source leak have been as profound had there been a demo? maybe. is it Valve's fault that there was a leak? partially.
But, answer me this: suppose there was a leak on duke nukem forever with quake 2 graphics? would anyone download a buggy test-only version of that? probably not. Valve's leak showed them how much people want this game, yet it pushed them back alot farther too. Ironic, huh?
Would the source leak have been as profound had there been a demo? maybe. is it Valve's fault that there was a leak? partially.
But, answer me this: suppose there was a leak on duke nukem forever with quake 2 graphics? would anyone download a buggy test-only version of that? probably not. Valve's leak showed them how much people want this game, yet it pushed them back alot farther too. Ironic, huh?