Damien B,
On the passport thing, VWP-pax must have a biometric passport to travel under the VWP, if the passport is issued after 26OCT04.
I believe there has been talk about changing this to that ALL VWP-pax entering from 26OCT04 must have a biometric passport, regardless of when it is issued, but
AFAIK, that is just a rumor.
Many countries are lagging behind in the development of biometric passports, and I think many VWP-countries will have a tough time offering biometric pspts to their citizen that early.
Heck, here in Norway, we started with the MRP's for real as late as this fall (before that, you could only get them in three police districts in the country)!!
But even after that date, with the current rules, you can still apply for a visa, even if you have the old type of PSPT. However, that may change as well. Time will tell...