I guess that's just for source games then. Because the GCF files DO pre-allocate.
I have no clue if this helps, but when mark was downloading UT3 Black on thursday, he sent me this IM...mkreafle: Well that picked Crap up. Quit steam and installed the titian mod over the unfinished download... LOL now it's updating.*shrug*
No he did the same thing you are doing. He bought it Thursday a little before noon, so he just started it earlier than most people. I was having the exact same problems early Thursday morning when it was released, just not near as bad. It would fluctuate between 10kbps - 350kbps. So the same thing still might apply for you.
Nope he bought it. He was complaining to me that he bought it for $20 RIGHT before they released the $12 deal heh. He was playing last night with us.
I installed CBP3 volume 1 and volume 2.