Amy, too bad you had such a bad experience.
I had just the opposite. I thought it was quite well organized and very well marked. I believe it said on the website that only those pre-registered got a t-shirt.
Plus the rest stops were great, plenty to eat and drink, and some really nice touches like the hot cider, home baked cakes and cookies, and steamed potatoes.
Most of the rides I've done don't have a real official start time, as there are just too many people. It's better to keep everyone moving, just get them going right away.
As for the route, I'm glad you liked that. Bucks County is a really beautiful part of the country, and having such a clear day made it even more so.
You should try it again sometime. Maybe you could even just ride up the Delaware River from Stockton to Milford and back on the Jersey side. It's not too hilly that way, and Rt. 29 had nice wide shoulders.