Meet The Pyro:
Gears Go Awry Man: Did anyone Notice The "Optical Mask" The Pyro wears? I think it holds the key, (or more properly: IS the key), to the Pyro's sugary worldview. The mask disfigures the horrors into sunshine and lollipops.
(Why else would they specifically call it: "Optical mask"?)
Edited by GearsGoAwryMan Hide / Show RepliesAnyone who logs in until July 11 2012 gets a free item that looks like the lenses and the part of the mask with that label on it. Equipping it (in the misc slot, not as a hat) allows any character to see Pyroland. So it does seem to be the reason for it. (Notably, much of the new equipment the Pyro got is not visible without wearing the mask. The Rainblower and Lollichop look like the normal flamethrower and axe.)
I found this very interesting link. http://www.teamfortress.com/lecturevalley/
To get it, find the Business Time blog post on the TF 2 Official site, then click at the full stop at the end of the entire entry.
Could it be a new ARG?