There's no doubt that this delay is IMO from the website being debugged and wanting to release a PR when everything is up and running smooth for the Grand Opening... I was involve a couple years ago with a Corp that was developing an social media type of website that can store pics, blogs, interact with other group members and it took months to develop, debug, and to go live. It is a lot of work and to add a online store with products to sell, ship, and manage would be amazing to have done in three months of time. And the cost was in the tens of thousands to have that done let alone this website that in my guestimate would be maybe $50,000 of more.
With the right IT team it could be done quicker and cheaper possibly.
Don't quote history to me.... there's no future in it.