"Resentful benefactor" sounds like an oxymoron, but Frontier has proved anyone can become one.

You're saying it might be... Dangerous?

Actually, if that joke isn't played out already it probably will be pretty soon. :-(

Bunch of people are happily playing the game or looking forward to it. The people wanting refunds are a minority. (my ticket is around 4000-ish. If they'd had NO issues ever up until now that's just 4-5k people wanting a refund out of 140k who have pre-ordered in one way or another. Chances are it's a lot less than that.)

Personally I don't understand why my refund request hasn't been fulfilled. It was a simple pre-order, never played Beta or even downloaded the demo but I've been waiting for weeks.

I don't care about on-line/off-line but the shady refund policy really annoyed me. I do get the odd pang wondering if maybe it'd be simpler to just cancel the refund request....

Yeah. The bloody imbeciles could earn some sympathy and lots of cash if they at least considered the idea of doing a single player-offline mode.
Like: "We're going to start with an always-online game. But given the general interest in an offline mode we shall consider creating one in the future. Please, give us some time."

Alas, in a world of imbeciles, crooks sometimes win.

To the first sentence I would answer that as a backer you can withdraw your backing until the very last moment, so either you give all that you promised at any point to all backers or nothin to noone. Maybe the online mode was the online thing that kept this particular backer from withdrawing. The second sentence I don't like much either. If the creator has the right to change and remove elements at will then the outcome is completely arbitrary and the backer has no rights at all. That can't be the idea. Sure, the elements can be changed but this means that you have to compensate backers if you leave important things out. Offline mode and DRM free is kind of important, isn't it.

I agree that it is a difficult topic but the way they handle it and jump from one doubtful point (online is no DRM) to another (we offer you 50%) to another ("you were too early before we said it") is just pathethic. Can't they show some spine at all and pay those out who want that? I'm on the verge of actually developing happy feelings should their game fail.
My impression is that with this hilarious interpretation they are also damaging KS. KS surely doesn't want backers in fear that they are not benefitting from anything that other later backers were promised. Surely also KS doesn't like such an interpretation.

Something alone the lines of "we started with the online mode since we thought this is more important - it was very complex and the money is almost used up - we need to get it out now and later, if the game sells well, we work on an online mode (promised)" would raise considerably less of a fuzz.

Sometimes I wonder if PR would have a better image if it wouldn't be used to barely cover up for idiotic management decisions.
Probably because they are jerks. Since you are from the UK, write them a letter reminding them of your case and setting them a deadline of 7 days or so. If you have a legal protection insurance and some free time it might be fun to use it.

One guy is, and they are organizing joint action. I am participating, if anyone else wants, contact "Pibbles" on the frontier forum. or just ask to join per email: pibbles a t elitedangerousrefunds.org

He's just put out a last call for being involved in the action, so be quick if you want to add your name to the list.

Actually we know how solvent they are

http://www.frontier.co.uk/docs/files/Frontier%20Developments%20plc%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202014.pdf

They have 9 million pound in revenue and 8.6 million pound in cash. That is 14-15 million USD.

You can even check David salary there.

They have enough cash to pay back the entire kickstarter campaign a few times over

It sure pays to be a crook.

Well, add that to the contempt they show towards their customer base, and they surely qualify for some politically incorect title...

As we say here "A force de prendre les gens pour des pigeons, il ne faut s'étonner de se ramasser de la merde sur la figure "

i'm interested in this game, but should i buy it? i don't want to hand money to people who have lied to their investors.

I wouldn't buy it. Aside from betrayal of customers, there's a pretty good reason why people wanted an offline version of the game. If a game is online only, notable problems include not being able to play due to poor Internet connections, or a server being down, etc. (while with an offline mode, you obviously have the entire game and will be able to play it with or without internet)

Well... They screwed a few people over, game's got always-online DRM and they ask for your permission for in-game adverts in EULA, to sum it up. So yeah, your choice I suppose :D