my main concern is the message BB is sending out when the first thing new players will see on the site is this announcement.. I would have put me off!
You are partly right
1. The announcement can be taken off after 2 days, and we can continue discussing the issue in the forum.
2. If someone is already at the stage of going to check the game - he will probably check it anyway, and the game has enough to offer to negate any possible put off.
3. Real gamers, know that such an announcement is not enough to bring a game to the top. If the members are not really satisfied, they won't bother. Hattrick, Freekick and other games called for similar activities with much less success. If a game becomes # 3 in few hours (and I suppose it will continue to climb up) - members are very cooperative, and this says something as well.