Mark
They must have heard your January rant as far away as Paris!
I think that with the extra places (assuming they are to be released to the wide community and not segregated) with your 200 you are all but assured of being able to pre-register in 3 weeks. But well worth being 'on the button' on 10 March (2300) and also getting your first 200 BRM qualifier done and getting a place on (ie entering) your preferred 400 and 600. Not all those with a 200 will be able to pre-register, I fear, so 'time is of the essence'.
The 1000s took about 1900 places and the 600s took about 2500+. Before the 400s got in there, there were 1940 places (10 Feb 2300GMT). The 400s have taken up about 1045 places so far, dropping availability to just under 900. ACP have now added 520 extra places to the figures which suggest 1313 are currently available (1130 on Sunday 17 Feb). Most of the new places have been added to the 80 hour starts (400 more). Perhaps 300 slots are being reserved for an alternative entry mechanism / domestic consumption.