One of the graphics card makers (PNY?) created an invitation system and would sell to randomly selected invites at MSRP. They stopped doing it, though -- I susp

One of the graphics card makers (PNY?) created an invitation system and would sell to randomly selected invites at MSRP. They stopped doing it, though -- I suspect they got flooded by scalpers adding immense numbers of email addresses into the "pool". Defeating the scale part of the scalper attack means charging an entrance fee, or using some other "proof" that hard to get at scale (like a credit card number). I like the idea of a long-term refundable reservation fee (pay $25 to get on the lottery list via distinct credit card, and if it's not delivered in a year or two you get your money back). Something like a Gamestop membership is somewhat useful as well, but I'd just really rather see the manufacturers adopt reservation systems. Of course this is all just idle speculation. Lots of smart people (on both sides) have been thinking about this problem for a long time.