I didn't play in closed Beta. I preordered from Gamestop to get my TOS Constitution Class. I had done my research and that was the preorder bonus I wanted. I knew going in that I wouldnt get it in HeadStart but that was fine with me. (dont get me wrong, I'd love to be escorting Undine/Vulcan ambassadors and patrolling the Vulcan sector and all the other newb quests in my Connie, but I can deal for a couple days.)
I had no problem logging in. I did have a qeue once that was 500 or so people, but I got in pretty quickly. I played Saturday, Sunday and will play today. I'm only level 4 (Lt. 4) so I'm not tearing through the content.
I'm impressed with the game. I think they nailed the look and feel of what a Star Trek game should be.
I've played several MMOs, and their launches always vary in execution. I thought LOTRO launched really well. I was in the closed and open beta (and their version of "head start" which allowed you to keep your toon when the game went live from retail). It was perhaps a bit smoother than this, but not a ton. There are always hiccups and issues.
You always have people crying about downtime and not getting their free goodie right away and all those other things. It will pass.
Here are some things I like:
1. I like the way they integrated all the various versions of Trek. TOS inspired stuff can exist by TNG stuff and all in this slightly advanced future setting. Works great.
2. I like that names arent unique for both toons and ships. I hate having to do a lame spelling of my intended character name just because someone logged in and name grabbed. I think all MMOs should use this.
3. I like the episodic feel of the game. The quests feel like a TV episode and I think that is fun. YMMV.
4. I love sector space. It looks amazing. I love flying around in my starship in the Trek universe.
5. I love the away team concept and your team members have reasonably good AI (not great, but reasonably good). I was worried about how this would work when I read about it, but its well implemented. It will no doubt get some improvement over time.
6. Sandbox design. I can just go do what I want. That is pretty cool. There is no tightly confined newb area. Now, with the sandbox, comes the feeling of being overwhelmed with options (see below), but I still like it. I just want more guidance.
7. Overall design--the colors, choices, etc, all scream Trek. They honored the source material, which matters.
Some things I have concerns about (some are not the fault of the game, but are my fault)
1. Wow, I am overwhelmed with options. I really have no idea how to use all of the stuff you have access to right away. Most games do a slightly better job of funnelling you into your proper items and equipment. This game just pretty much opens it all up to you real quick. I dont know what is good and bad and what to pick.
2. Skills/powers/whatever. Part of 1, above, knowing what skills and powers to select and advance is a bit overwhelming. A really good guide would be helpful.
3. I dont know how long space combat will remain fun. It seems to be a repetitive process of engage, spin around to keep the damage to your shields from being focused on one area, then as you spin you spacebar auto fire your phasers to take out their shields, then photon them to death. So lots of spinning around. Maybe I am just a lame captain.

But this seems like it could get old, like Sid Meier's Pirates did. Awesome at first, lame later. I dont know.
4. Non combat missions. I want more of them. Granted I'm only Lt. 4, so I havent gone far. But so far all the episodes are pretty combat heavy. Sure, combat is fun. But there has only been one roleplay "talk to the miners, find out what is wrong" mission. Trek in all its incarnations is more than combat. I sure hope there is more of this kind of content in the future.
5. Did I mention I was overwhelmed with options?
6. Combat is a tad plodding, I dont like the "come to a dead stop and slow movement if you bump into something." Some call this bumper cars, I guess.
7. Maybe I just love LOTRO but I would like better and more fluid mouse control like in LOTRO. Maybe I am not doing this right.
I am looking forward to picking up my retail box tomorrow morning (no midnight launch in my hood) and getting my Constitution class ship. I'm lookiing forward to trying this out. It has a ton of potential.
You experts who did beta, if you have any help or comments for me on the concerns I listed about, it would me much appreciated.