The /etc/acpi/events/sample.conf file has a misspelling that prevents the power button to work: event=button/power.* should be: event=button power.*
Also, the initscript states "Starting Acpi daemon:" which does not conform to other initscripts. Something like "Starting acpid:" would be more inline.
The events *changed names*? (The old syntax worked fine with previous kernels to the beta one.) Gah, for a stable subsystem.
More or less deferring for now. ACPI will not be in the release.
AFAIK, it wokrs currently with current code, and I don't see an issue with 'Starting acpi daemon'.