I hope this is not the case. I purchased the game in early December with the understanding I could "possibly" play up to FIVE days early. Atleast the advertisement came across this way. "PREORDER - you may play up to FIVE days early".
If it was SWTORs intent to have me start playing on the 19th of December, as of the date I signed up, it should have read "you may play up to ONE day early".
In my opinion, ALL this could have been solved by setting the startup dates at the same time preorders where made.. and have this be known at the time a pre-order purchase was made. ex.
July pre-orders = 7 days early
Aug pre-orders = 6 days early
It is 2012 and mmo's have been around for quiet awhile. Preliminary studies should have been made in this regard before announcing pre-order/release dates. While I am not mad and do not expect to play for a couple more days, it is irritating to see how a game of this size is handled on opening days.
Either way, in a couple days this will all blow over. We know it. They know it.
August to October 2nd preorders = 6 days early
October 3rd - possibly last week of November = 5 days early
Everyone else should be getting 4 days
Read the dev post, it's posted there.