I can provide a different perspective on owning EOY - We have an EOY summer week in Cocoa Beach and the whole purpose of buying an EOY unit was so that we wouldn't get bored with going to same place each summer. This is especially true for the independent resorts out there. We simply wanted to be able to own something or rent something in the "off" years so that we could do other things. Now, if there is just that one particular place that you absolutely LOVE and want to go to every year, then by all means, buy an EY.
For us, the only way we would buy an EY timeshare is if it's within a mini-system (WM, Hilton, Bluegreen, etc.) so that we could choose a new place to go each year. We are currently looking to do this for our second TS purchase...and we will most likely be going with Hilton.
So, I am a big fan of EOY ownerships! And no, we did not experience any problems with booking our week this year even with owning an EOY. Our timeframe in which to book our week was the same as for all the other owners. Hope that helps!