"If you were the management of POZ, would you want 5000 people getting 10k shares each or would you want a tight registry making it more difficult for a takeover in the near term?"
I AGREE if I was a CEO I'd want a tight ship. Clients of broking firms would be more loyal than general public trading through commsec.
If it bugs u so much, ring a broker from each trading house in ur State and dabble with them then u will get stock. otherwise if u cant afford higher brokerage (ie IMO is a future right to good tips and floats) then stick to commsec.