Only information I have seen talks about a Sept 1st release date which at this point can not be right.

The game would have to go "gold" like this week in order for that to happen right? Besides they are trying to implement the 'game-changing microtransactions' and many other things they are working on right now so I would say we are looking at Christmas now?

Have the devs ever updated the release date from what we were given back in May?

The release date is still September.  Not every company uses the 'gold' status.  The micro transactions (which aren't game changing) have been in for a couple of months now.  As for these many other things your assuming aren't done or in I'm not sure what your talkinga bout they've been pretty quiet on the game for a while its in Closed beta and goes to Open Beta on the 17th of this month.   Alot more articles are coming out with the Press NDA lifted recently so you really shouldn't assume that its not "in' just because they're only now talkinga bout it.  Its all a hype thing.