I am thinking that the only way to keep it honest is to surrender existing AIR, even if only temporarily. They could accept the AIR Beta, distribute New AIR based on what is surrendered, then at the end of verification, they could return AIR Beta. I know this sounds like a big pain, but really, how many are holding AIR right now? I can see the potential for abuse if existing AIR is not surrendered. Maybe there could be a volunteer to administer the exchange of coins. (Finger on nose...not it)
More likely you would simply start a new blockchain and you would than enable a redeeming mechanism in the new clients that "enables" your NEWAir on the new blockchain by importing your old wallet.dat so based on the adress-keys inside. MMC/PTS/AGS already did it several times... approved method and you don't need any exchanges whatsoever. Only the ppl have to fetch their air from the exchange and into their "own" wallet on time ... one will see, i guess. So the premined 2.5m would also appear in the new blockchain and there is no possibility of abuse (you had to trust the devs on this one until now so nothing changes here) - I think the greater "problem" is that several "Pros" that played this coin to this point are now so completely full of AIR that history will repeat even more distinct, i'm afraid. This will take a long time to "recover"... also me should have shortened greater quantities earlier.
Personally I don't believe in any of those so called "concepts" or strategies concerning of simple Alts anymore. The only thing that is gonna bring sustainable growth would be a mass adoption of any kind based on a decentralized blockchain-application but not necessarily simply by paying for goods online or even using those blockchain-application as a means of investment - Q.E.D. via this first attempt of AIR, even with best intentions of the developers.
Have Fun!