Yes, Simon, I have trepidations about the current method of ticketing. You buy the tickets 8 months in advance -- what if something happens to you and you can't go? You have nothing to sell. No way to give them to a friend or relative, unless you give them your credit card that you purchased the tickets with. Some places may take the tickets back, but it would be quite a hassle.
I don't think I would buy tickets in this manner for anyone but MK. Too much uncertainty. And I have heard that it doesn't really stop the scalpers anyway.