i think getting a tutorial ready for launch with 0.8a is great! both for introducing experienced players to the massive amount of additions and changes, and because i imagine this eagerly awaited release will generate some publicity as well, as new let's-play-series are started, and 'old' players will tell their friends about all the new fun they're having.
starting out as a completely new player has become more and more difficult and frustrating with additional campaign complexity of the last few big patches, and 0.8a would likely continue that trend (even if there are now more/easier ways to progress in the early-game, players still need to learn a lot to even know how to). as much as i'm hyped to get to play it myself, we've survived the wait for over a year at this point already anyway. ^^ i think we can manage a couple weeks longer, if it means new players will be able to hopefully enjoy 0.8a as much as i'm sure the people posting here will.