Check out some of the amazing early previews of Issue 7: Destiny Manifest.

Game Daily – “Cryptic Studios is definitely on the right track with City of Villains/City of Heroes Issue 7: Destiny Manifest, a robust and feature packed expansion that is in many ways an entirely different game, yet it fits about as perfectly as Soundwave and Laser Beak, allowing diehard super fans to either save Paragon City or ultimately bring it to its knees.”
Read more here.

Gamespot - “The next update for this comic-themed massively multiplayer game will include time travel, all-new player-versus-player battles, and environments you can smash to bits.” Read more here.

IGN.com - “Mayhem missions will undoubtedly be the big draw for many villains as they'll finally get to be the maniacal crazies that they've really always wanted to be.” Read more here.

MMORPG.com - “Issue 7 is an extremely in-depth update to the game. It's no wonder that players are excited about the new challenges, and new abilities that their characters will gain.” Read more here.

Ten Ton Hammer - “This is easily the coolest free expansion we've ever seen.” Read more here.

Quote: With that being said, I cordially invite you to eat this game when it's released this month.

hmm interesting. wonder if it will actually get released this month? it hasn't even hit test yet. that's from your first link and its dated april 5

I forgot where I read it, but there was talk of getting another free /respec on the anniversary date (in May). Somehow the conversation got roated to a red name saying something to the effect that they will not award the free /respec on the anniversary, but instead wait until I7 is released.

That tells me that I7 won't be released until mid-May, at least. I read that new Issues usually go to the test servers for about 30 days prior to being released and with E3 coming up....well, it just sucks that it's taking so long.

Rob

EDIT: Here's the quote from the red name...

Quote: Good gravy - y'all are a tough crowd. Some heroes. Beh. Sometimes I think I am the only one who hasn't "fallen" around here. I can't put I7 on test - No one will let me that close to the servers. What if we give you a Freespec for the 2 year anniversary? Sound good? Done. You have to save it if you want to use it after I7 - there will NOT be a respec for I7.

if you read that really closely, he just said that they won't be giving a free respec with i7 (not enough power changes which is a good thing i guess . .. means no massive nerfs). so free respec for anniversary but if we're expecting to be able to change our powers when i7 comes out, we'll have to save the anniversary one.

personally, it feels like they're just copping out of making something for the anniversary so instead one of the things that was supposed to be given with i7 is now an anniversary gift . ..