We're all going to sit and defend our particular side of the argument on this one. It's 1 race, that can join any faction.
That's the only difference to anything that's gone before in wow. If they added say.... murlocs as a playable race (with their own racial bonuses) that could join either faction any class but only if you pre-ordered, that's the equivalent here. Otherwise, no difference. (It also has a free pony, crab and refer a friend equivalent.)
If you pre-order the standard edition, you get to be any of the other 9 races on any faction.
If you order after release you have 3 races per faction.
Let's not straw man beyond this.
GMG is more than fine for codes too. Kinda tempted to switch from mine to GMG, we'll see