By 2pm yesterday (trying to get in since early morning) I finally got on my phone and used the Apple Store App to reserve my 16g black iPhone 4 for pickup on the 24th. That worked 1-2-3. Don't know why that worked yet the real website had so many problems. But even before that, when I would occasionally get past the "checking your eligibility" screen, it would still only allow me to reserve it for pickup.
What a goatfark!
Normally i could have waited, but I have an original 3G phone and the screen is all messed up with leaking liquid crystal. I can only see half the keyboard! I've been dying for a new phone for months and held out for the new one.