That's fantastic! I'm sure the beta is many, many months off, but I would absolutely love to help test it out when the day comes.
I also did a WoW stint (mine was 3 months, with the wife) and I was also frustrated by the leveling system. I raised a level 40 Tauren shaman, but by that point, all the quests just seemed like the same fodder. Go here. Get this. Escort her. Kill that. Ugh.
By the by, let me know if there's someplace I can donate to the cause of DO.
[Quick google search] Waitaminute, is this the one?
http://www.darkfallonline.com/buydarkfall/ That naval battle looks amazing! Dana, if you're at all serious about trying it out, let me know and you'll have a guildmate right from the get-go.

I'm excited to try it out.
EDIT: Oh I see, Darkfall is a game that's already out there, and the one your friend is working on is something else entirely. Well yeah, let me know if I can donate someplace.