Q:
Pre-purchase, pre-order and beta?
I would say that a pre-order doesn’t get you a CD key thus you get no beta access. If you really want beta access pre-purchase through the in game store.
There are a couple of official non-anet sources of pre-purchase. Read to see if you get a key now or on Oct 23 on those sites.
The official retailers listed on the GW2 website should also be offering pre-purchase.
The difference between this and pre-order is that with a pre-purchase you pay the full cost up front and get the account code right away. If you buy the deluxe or ultimate edition you will also get the extra items right away (but can’t use some of them, like the glider skin, until HoT is released).
Whereas a pre-order is simply reserving a copy by letting a retailer know you intend to purchase it. Sometimes you have to pay a deposit or give them your details, but you don’t pay the full price until the expansion comes out. Technically any retailer can offer a pre-order, they just have to make sure they order the copies in ready for the release date, but only certain ones can offer pre-purchase.
So in summary: If you buy from Anet or an official retailer (listed on the GW2 site) and pay the full price up front that’s a pre-purchase and will give you access to betas.
“Life’s a journey, not a destination.”