This is a close call and there's no sure answer. People do clear automatically off the waitlists, and on some difficult routes - just check the "GPU Success" thread. So there is a possibility if you don't waitlist, you will never clear. On the other hand, just waiting for R to open and then applying the instrument is an easier process. You don't have to rely on finding an agent who's willing to clear you manually (or to redeposit the instrument so you can do it yourself). You also need to be fairly obsessive about checking EF, particularly since it is not dynamic but runs periodic sweeps (much like the UA upgrade system).