Yup, it's true, BD demand management tends to end up zeroing out all cheap classes a couple of days before departure. Presumably it's the combination of being a Saturday (the only day both flights will be unpopular) and the beginning of the holidays.

And yes, I have the luxury of not needing to panic until the end of January personally. (Well, actually, not at all, given the ridiculously low requalification levels compared to many other *G levels...)