backup plan start time - Distribution Method: Random

Scenario: You have a group of 5 computers that are all part of a single backup plan. To spread out the backups, you use the distribute start time function, and set the max delay to 4 hours. The only choice at this point is to select "Random" as the distribution method.

Results: If your backup plan is scheduled to run at 12pm, and you set a 4 hour delay, the first computer may not start its backup until 3pm, and then all the backups have to run in the last hour. Another likely result is that one may run fairly close to the actual backup plan start time, and then the other 4 computers all start backing up at the same time. Also, if you start the backup plan manually, all 5 backups will run at the same time, regardless of delay start settings.

Conclusions: I would rather have an option to evenly distribute the start times of the backups, i.e. from the example above, have each backup start 48 minutes apart. The order of the machines can be random for all i care, but the random start time is too inconsistant. Also, if you manually start a backup plan that has the start time delay set, the same delays should apply. And progress doesn't usually show up in the progress tab for the backup plan (and if it does, it only the first backup that runs shows), you have to go to current activities to look at any details about the running backups.

Anyone else noticed this or found a workaround? (I do not want to set up separate backup plans for each machine.)
Thanks,
Davidb