To my surprise I actually found a store selling BI. Well, it isn't really that much of a surprise as I have previously gotten MTW and VI early from them.
When I had picked it up I kindly asked the clerk if its wasn't supposed to get out the 30th. He answered that he did know but would check up on it.
It turns out that he couldn't find anything saying that for their store, and it had in fact been out for a few days.
Now we are counting Tuesday today, so a few days to me sounds like Friday last week, but it could just have been yesterday. I didn't go further to ask if they had a licence for that as I quite wanted it. But to me it sounded like they did indeed have a right to sell it, and given their usual history of beating the usual deadlines with no problems I think it is a good bet.

Anyway, I'm off to try out the game.
I will come back to comment on these issues, and more:

AI in battle and on strategic map (can only be brief with the strategic map).
Charge of cavalry against infantry.
Horse archers shooting while moving (I suppose the bug is fixed)
Save-bug
and if I can I will check up on naval AI.

Post any non-screenshot related questions.

Btw, if you are fearing the pagan symbol, don't. It isn't the pentagram, but rather a Yen symbol.