Hi Roger,
I've had many discussions with Leica about some sort of registration system. It was particularly bad right after the M9 launch, as the camera was in such high demand. I would spend a lot of time with clients (some even members of this forum) who would place orders with me, only to have them cancel and buy elsewhere, when another dealer got in a shipment before we did.
This of course is a regular event with lenses now...a funny side story looking back: Precision had new Leica lenses in stock for literally YEARS that did not move, until the M9 was released. They had one 50/2 Summicron silver in stock so long, that their accountants decided to write it off! So it was on the books for $0, yet still in stock (yes, made no real sense but that's an other discussion.) Needless to say, someone got a very good deal on that lens (a forum member here as a matter of fact.)
It would make a lot of sense for a buyer to put in an order with a dealer, and be locked in with that dealer thru Leica. Leica would know that Joe Smith is on the list at dealer X, with an associated order date.
As it is, many buyers (who are not scalpers at all, just photographers who want the camera or lens now, instead of months from now) are putting in orders with multiple dealers, and whichever dealer is lucky enough to get the first shipment gets the sale. Of course, when M9s were tight there was usually another customer right behind to take their place, but it ended up wasting a lot of the dealer's (my) time. Communicating with a customer 100+ times over several months, giving status reports, etc. only to end up losing the sale to another dealer in another state (due to a random event )after all that work is not a fun experience.
Of course, Leica was very gracious when we described the registration idea. But that's as far as it went. They are always very polite when saying no, haha. Speaking frankly, they know they are going to sell everything they manufacture; so why do they need to do any extra work to support the dealers? It's just not going to happen.
I have absolutely nothing against anyone buying something, and selling it at a profit. After all, that's what I do every day.
But there is a place for selling gear to the highest offer...