Webfreak your a star, that spells it out like a dime!
So from that image/process, how far along the process is the 'owner of the domain' able to renew it? Do they have the option to renew up to RGB only or can they still renew in the 'deletion' stage? Just trying to make a clear picture in my head, so I have this covered for my own domains and for when I start buying etc.
Also Hypnotique what you mentioned, sounds good. I could possibly go down this route.