While the Beta is shaping up, you shouldnt think about pre-ordering this to just to get a new game early. It will probably crash on you at some point, the aliens might not want to talk to you for a few more months (I think they're just shy, but stardock seem to think they've forgotten how to use their universal translators or something), most of the tech tree is currently non-existant and so on.
But if you are interested in helping to make this the game you want to play, and having a modest input into its development, and are prepared to work at it, then I'm sure stardock want to hear from you. Just be well aware of what this open beta is all about.