I think this is the biggest problem. I know that quite a few people showed up when all was said and done, but I'm sure it would have been great to tell PP a few weeks before the event that 20 or 30 people are already signed up.
On the website issue, I think you are spot-on and think this is one of the issues that may have caused the low pre-reg numbers. Happily it is something we can easily fix and will for next year. Sending you a PM.