Every time we have a digital release come up, it is almost like clockwork that there is one person there to complain "why have pre-orders for Digital releases". Their argument is basically to "just release it, its digital, and there is no reason to have pre-orders." Well, the reason for these pre-orders is basically one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't.
This morning Games Workshop answered this question that gets a small percentage of the community all riled up. Our community is sometimes a very difficult bunch, and I do not envy Games Designers/companies for having to deal with us.
via Games Workshop: Digital Editions
You don't have to pre-order if you don't want to, but if you do it on the iBookstore with the interactive edition, it does mean that your codex downloads automatically, as soon as the book is available, which is kind of cool.
Also, whenever we don't do pre-orders, people always ask when they can pre-order it - some people just like to pre-order stuff.
It's kind of like christmas when your present's under the tree: you can see it, and you have a week to get excited about it, making the opening all the sweeter.
- Eddie