I believe you should be able to just let SP know of your intent there that it can be run. Wasn't there another set that did this? For some reason I recall that being the case.
Yup, just read Booper's post, a few above yours.
SP is still a company that has personal contact with their designers and customers and despite my misgivings about their efforts to get a semi-GB system in place, they do what's in the best interests of both parties, respecting people's wishes and requests unless they clash with each other. Also their options for designers are unmatched by any other manufacturer.
I just think they should either:
1. do a full GB system with preorders and fallback kit choices so they get a true picture of how many sets to make. That'd make it "better" than MD since the prices would be lower, a little quicker to get to the buyers and they solve the international kits problem.
2. stick to simply selling extras on their store if the designer agrees to it (which they calculate from external GB order numbers), with the option to make more to meet demand.
Number 2 would be easiest for them and involve not doing stuff that's untested. Number 1 would require a big commitment and lots of work.
This in-between, "almost GB" thing is not all that promising, IMO. I can even see how it could be detrimental to the "normal" GB's. If only subpar designs get submitted (due to well developed designs most likely rather running through MD, not to mention that seems to have happened a lot with the old site), but somehow one gets enough votes, they'll reserve a slot for it and it will go to production, taking the time that a set that's gone through the "full" process and is up as a "proper" GB should have.
Right now, it's not likely anything major will change with the site and the most glaring objections of mine have been addressed, so we can simply see how things go for a while.