Hi guys,
A friend just alerted me to this thread, so I thought I should introduce myself and let you know a little more about the new products...
I'm one of the designers from Freeload- its great to read your comments, its always good to hear feedback from users- especially when they've identified issues!

Thanks for posting such detailed advice Craig- you've highlighted the key issues with the current product nicely, and we're glad to be able to finally offer some better solutions to these... we haven't had a chance to update the info on our website yet, and realistically these new products aren't going to be available for a couple of months yet, but I thought it best to get some information and images out there now seeing as people are talking about it.

Firstly, the new deck- we designed this to alleviate problems with pannier attachment, and top loading longer items.
It features a 10mm rail, with 75mm of fore/aft adjustment- this serves to give heel clearance on bikes with shorter back ends, lets you pull the load closer to the bike when mounted on the fork, and also allows you to set your panniers up so that they don't slide back and forth making noise.
It clicks on and off in the same way as the original deck.

Secondly, we've also introduced some bolt on side frames- these simply attach directly onto the ends of the aluminium rails of the new deck, and fasten to the rack's frame
via a hook and quick release arrangement.
These frames are intended as extra support for people using larger, or floppy panniers. Many smaller and relatively rigid panniers work fine with just the deck, provided the  lower attachment fits the oversize tubing of the racks frame.
These side frames move with the rail, and have the same fore/aft adjustment, as well as offering options for height of your panniers. The photo's aren't that clear, but you can just make out the slots around the perimeter of the frames which give more options for securing your load... we've found that even the best panniers on the market tend to be let down by their attachment systems when it comes to riding off road, and require extra straps to keep things together.

Craig- you're right about the bungees... we haven't been happy with those either so they're gone now... we'll bring out some webbing straps some time soon instead.
Its interesting to hear you've found the hardware to be sub-standard... we'll look into that.
Its worth noting that, should you lose the release key- you can substitute a small flat bladed screwdriver or similar... something small enough to fit the hole, and strong enough to lift the ratchet pin. We've aimed to design the racks to be as field repairable as possible- so any feedback you have around issues like this we'd love to hear.

Whew! I hope that answers some of your questions...
I should also mention that we've got a few new products in the works too... including some of our own panniers aimed more at the off road market, as well as some ultra light
gear mounting systems, and new ideas for utility and work situations.... however- getting these products totally refined is our number one priority!

Cheers

Tim