Personally, I think it’s rather obvious that the release for the Interview was planned.

-They decided to say they are not releasing it.
-They get to benefit from the media hype (thank you DRK for the free advertising blitz)
-They choose a few select theatres and announce 2 days in advance, thus not giving any possible terrorists time to act.
-Then, release it online — totally cutting the middle men involved in a nation-wide theatrical release.

What a strategy.