I wouldn't pre-order at all. I would wait until the vehicle hits the market and then see what actually happens with it. If there is anything we have learned in the wild land of hybrids and dealers, it is that pre-order and waiting lists are poorly administered and often times administered unfairly or without much honor or ethics. If the pre-order list was administered by Toyota directly, that would be a different issue, however they are administered by dealers and you are up to the dealer you choose to deal with.

It has been said:
Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2.
2005 Prius, Melinium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)