Any idea exactly when the patch will be released?

sometime in the future

Exactly.

Having just installed NVSE and a couple mods that needs it (RTS!), the patch will inevitably be released tomorrow and they won't work anymore, if my usual luck is any indication.

Not that the patch would be unwelcome, of course. The mods will be updated quickly enough.

Maybe "Valve Time" is spreading... In that case I expect to see it after 4 months.
But yeah I wouldn't be surprised if it's released a day before the DLC or the date of the DLC.