Updates 26JUL10

I don't think the variance I'm seeing is worth attempting to exploit, but I do think it will be very common nevertheless.  As time progresses--and potentially more players heed my personal brand of sage advice--large queues are likely to become more common to alleviate excess tedium of daily queue data entry,  guarantee constant resource production, and possibly even save some prestige.  (You don't need multi-queue capability if all your production queues are booked solid for the next 100 days. )

Now that queue speeds change, there's no longer any cause for restraint prior to reaching level 20 either.  There's no downside really...just less work and drudgery.

GM Stormcrow wrote: Updates 26JUL10 There is a small chance, especially with radical production speed changes, of a current single item in production being lost during the change process as your workers re-tool.

I believe it must be more than a chance, and potentially more than 1.  I have dozens of orders for 1000+ units that have been increased by 2-3 units per thousand.  A couple yet-unstarted orders for 4000 livestock are now for 4010.