Did you really lock regular path points behind the Episode pass?

The whole layout is very confusing.  I feel like it would have gone a long way to give everyone a free episode pass for the first time, kind of like a beta test, since they obviously did not do any testing.  Then at least everyone is getting stuff for free while figuring it all out, and even if there is some frustration and anger with the system and layout, its lessened because everything you would be getting is a bonus freebie.  Give us time to get used to it, and then start charging the next time around, when everyone knows what is what and isn't having to pay money and go in blind