Thanks to everyone who contributed to the discussion. I was actually quite surprised by how many supported the registration idea to be honest, which at least means I won't feel quite so bad about introducing it should it ever become necessary.
As things have calmed down, I think the pendulem has now swung the other way, so, as some have suggested today, I think the most sensible cause of action is to sit on it for a little while and see how things go.