I have no idea on the technical issues encountered here, but I will put in a plug for random start positions. I play by setting my base and bombs and, usually one or two spies in the front row and one or two sappers in the back row and then 'randomly place remaining pieces'. It takes less than 10 seconds to get going.
I doubt it's visible any more a IYT, but there was a game played there between pcron and Ruth that highlighted the dangers of saved positions. pcron apparently used a saved start position and Ruth apparently knew which one. :)
(kaŝi) Se vi volas ludi kontraŭ ludanto de simila nivelo, vi povas difini intervalon de BKR ĉe invito al nova ludo. Tiukaze neniu kun BKR ekster tiu intervalo povos vidi/akcepti ĝin, (Katechka) (Montri ĉiujn konsilojn)