Does this mean that dropped players are not availabile through the bidding process, but are available during the FCFS? If so, that seems a little odd to me.

I've just come across the exact same issue in OUTRAGED. I fixed it by setting "Players are locked until <start of blind bidding period>"

This would seem more fair. I understand locking them for long enough for owners to be aware, but they should be a part of the blind bid process.

Since all settings should come across from season to season on league renewal and I don't recall this being a problem before, I'm wondering if there was a glitch this year, given that both leagues seem to have had the same thing happen?

the idea is that if someone drops someone of value, someone else shouldn't be able to nab him up immediately via FCFS. but of course, someone dropped during last week's FCFS period should be eligible to be bid on THIS week. the way I had the setting seemed to accomplish this, but it obviously didn't. so here is the change I just made: dropped players are locked until monday 11 PM EST. from then until wednesday night, players dropped the previous week are eligible to be bid on via waivers, or added via FCFS after waivers have run.

seem agreeable to everyone?

Looks good

Sounds good.

Exactly what I did in OUTRAGED, otherwise dropped FAs weren't showing up until waivers actually ran which obviously is too late. Weird that we both had the same issue.