I thought of a really logical explanation for the Outcast 2 delay: multiplayer.
Yeah, multiplayer. All the "best-selling-games" have it: Halo, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Medal of Honor, C&C: Renegade and so on. I know Outcast is, well... an Outcast, but I think Appeal looked at the formulas that made all those great games... great, and thought "If we want Outcast 2 to be good, we beter include some multiplayer".
I dunno if this looks crap to you, but it's the best thing I can think of
![wink [;)]](./images/smilies/icon_smile_wink.gif)
La luna y la estrella guardarán siempre a walker del sueño...