Hi asinthaf,
This topic of high case numbers also is one the frequently discussed topics. practically this sort of numbers will all become current at the end of the fiscal year, there are two issues with this matter:
1: available Visa numbers might be exhausted: This has been very uncommon but recently USCIS has decided to start with larger numbers to allow more time for more people to benefit from the opportunity before the FY ends. So you never know may be this year, the visa numbers actually finish before the end of the year.
2: there is a chance that high number cases never get the chance to complete the process before September 30th.
The common wisdom again is that usually CP process is faster since it only has one step. Also consulates are very well experienced with DV cases. (considering that about 40000 DV visas are issued outside the US and only about 4000 are yearly issued inside US.)
However, last year USCIS was pretty good in speeding up the DV process at the end of the year. See DV 2010 forum, cases as high as 25000 managed to get their GC.
The choice is yours. However, have all of your other immigration options open.
hope this helped
