That depends. I bought into the Planetside 2 beta for $40, but I got $40 worth of station points and a few other perks for launch as well and I didn't feel cheated because plenty of people had beta access before me. Of course if all you get for paid beta access is paid beta then yes, I think that would be unfair, but any company going down that route would raise flags with me immediately and I wouldn't buy in in that case.
Again, that's easy for you to say now that you have gotten to play the game already. Not doggin on you or anything, it's just that I'd give a alot to get to play this game right now.