Well that is great news. It is just hard to wait when 08 isn't like an addition of 06, but instead like a whole new revolutionary game that has so much more to offer.
As far as publishers go, I don't know exactly what goes into a deal. All I can tell you is that the majority of the big simulation games are published and developed by the same company (The Sims, Flight Simulator, etc.) However, Atari and THQ are two big publishers who have some simulation games to their name.
Now retail stores I can handle. Here on the East coast of the U.S., the only two places we shop are EBgames/Gamestop (which are essentially the same company and only handle video games) or Wal-Marts.