Navagon: I think that's to do with the pace and nature of the game. Penumbra was expanded out of a physics tech demo and naturally everything was very interactive as a result. This game wants you to be very much more focussed on survival. Agreed on the crates though. I wanted to be able to shift them a bit too.
Maybe this will be changed in the full game. I re-watched the earlier teaser, and Daniel was able to drag a table to barricade a door, which I couldn't do in the demo. Here's to hoping!
I just pre-ordered the game off Gamersgate. I was actually going to hold out for a boxed version, but even Frictional doesn't know when it can sign a deal with a publisher for the Rest Of The World crowd. Nevertheless I'm elated knowing I can play this come Thursday night after downloading it off Gamersgate, and my two brothers and I are gonna huddle together at 12 midnight and scream like little girls :D