Why would we get a beta patch when Luthier said that they were redoing the graphics, physics, and sound engine?

Luthier: "Hey guys, I want you to stop working on making this game properly and spend several hundred man-hours on a new temporary patch to try and get 1-3% more functionality out of the current game build. Meanwhile everyone else will be working on a total-rework of the game that will render all your work a time-consuming, expensive, and useless endeavor.

I could see Oleg doing something like this, but I think Luthier has a better head on his shoulders.