: If not, then it's just a case of your version of 'complete' differing to
: theirs (i.e. they never planned on putting it in so it was never on their
: to-do list)

Can't recall. And I agree with you to a point; but we do know that it was on the "to do" list, maybe not the launch window to do list, but it was there. I would guess that they decided it was better to release the game with some things not quite working and I can understand that, but the experience is incomplete (in my book).

Now, they have gone to great lengths to bring these features to us, and I appreciate that a lot! I just feel it hurt the dedicated Halo community :( and that makes me sad more than anything.