Since "real" numbers are impossible to produce, let's at least use an illustration.
Take Thanksgiving for example. Let's say there are 500 rooms. 550 people want to book Thanksgiving night right at 11 months.
Old System: It's a free-for-all at 9am (6am Pacific, Lord knows what time overseas) with 500 getting their reservation and 50 getting nothing. Some of those 50 are almost certainly people who have Wednesday and prior already booked, but are now left with holes in their trip.
New System: All-or-nothing. Those arriving earlier in the week will have an advantage, but at least their entire trip is secure. Those who start calling that morning will have less inventory remaining, but will also be able to secure their entire trip if they
do get a room.
I'm really struggling to decide which is better. I think the possibility that people may call 11 months out and not be able to continue booking their trip as planned (old system) is really awful.
All things considered, the old system may be fairer (first-come, first-served), but I still think it leaves a lot to be desired when people are held captive by their telephone every morning for a week. And even then they live under the constant threat of ruining their planning if they can't make it to the phone for some reason.
However you slice it, when demand exceeds supply, someone is going to be shut-out. Is it better that we shut-out the party who has not yet begun to book, or potentially a member in the midst of booking?