I'm confused here;

To some, the SP workshop is totally visible, everything wrapped in it is free to view. To others, like me, though, we don't see any actual workshop (the only reason I'm posting here is by opening the Workshop subforum in the Discussions tab), and cannot even access it through alternative methods.

Is the workshop released or in closed beta? If beta, then how closed is it, and how do some people seem to be referring to it like it's a normal thing everyone can access, even if it is a closed beta and they don't realize it? Are they ever sent an E-Mail or SP message notifying them that their accounts can see the workshop, and they just don't check it?

I just don't get it.