LOL, their excuse is that they want to use matchmaking to protect noobs from being pwned or otherwise abused on custom hardcore servers. I understand the whole ranking system, but the matchmaking and the custom servers should both be included and just kept separate. Can they even handle the massive amount of players that will be trying to play on launch day? Please don't tell me it will be player-hosted lobbies.
I don't understand their concern. They don't need to hold people's hands. It's easy to find a server with the regular difficulty and not the hardcore difficulty which would characterize a pro server.
You can get the Steam version pre-ordered, but where are you trying to pre-order from? Might be better looking for a Canadian retailer rather than the ones listed on the MW2 site.
360 version:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...03&catid=23358