I'm kind of disappointed that everyone seems to have shot down the short edge deployment before even trying it.
You've been to a tournament at BG before, yes? The tables are put short-end to short-end. It is completely unfeasible. The deployment itself is fine, but it will not currently work at a BG tournament.
It really is a shame Ben,
As i've said before i really think it would make for interesting games and would level the playing field for vehicles and shooting armies in a 6th edition that is assault heavy.
That being said your point is a valid one Ben, it will likely never work because 4 people will be shoulder to shoulder on the same edge and shows once again that people at GW don't actually play games or visit stores and tournaments.
and in my opinion is another aspect of the game that while MEANT to balance the game (my aforementioned arguement of it being balancing for vehicles/shooting) it is HARD to implement just like fortifications at tournaments, being forced to use and by extension BUY flyers, etc
the 6th edition book is like a shopping cart with wobbly wheels, you take away one aspect (wheel) and the whole thing swings out of balance...
take away short deployment = better for assault armies
take away double force org = some armies lose out
take away fortifications = people lose out on anti-air capability
feast of blades taking out warlord traits, mysterious forests and random relic effects... well that doesn't really swing the whole shebang out of whack because it effects everyone