When I click the 2.8 release option and download the G’MIC zip file, it downloaded the 2.9 pre release; same thing it did last time (2.8 pre release). Not sure why the links link to the beta instead of the officially released plugin. Just curious. 
because the beta are stable enough ? They even often fixes bug in the latest releases, so I think it’s better to provide those by default for the users.
That’s cool, David. I’ve been test driving the new release and it’s quite capable. Not sure why some of my previous saved favorites disappeared (not all; some, like my Make Squiggly preset) though, I use Make Squiggly for my electrify render. The settings can be easily recovered so no biggy.