[chadzawistowski]

$5 is still $5 if you buy a game after the fact. I don't see how joining early purchasers helps game developers more than otherwise.

[notfoss]

If games sell well early into their release, the devs would be elated and motivated. Also they would get more money at the time they are hoping to get it.

[kbenson]

The vast majority of the games in the humble bundles would never get any money from me. It's some or nothing, and I assume they would prefer "some".