It's the FA's fault - they're using us as a pawn to try and get an extra place, by nominating the 4th place side earlier in the season they were in a no lose situation. Although the UEFA rules should have been set in stone after the Madrid precedent.
Should take whatever UEFA give us with regards to the CL, then tell the FA to stick the FA Cup (or just put the kids out again). I'd probably pull out of the World club thing in Japan too, just to make the point to UEFA.
You're right about the rules changing, forget all this rules are rules shite off the blues, they were set last year so that we'd go in the UEFA if Chelsea or Arsenal won it and finished outside the top 4. They were the same until the FA nominated the 4th place side (which surprisingly shafted us again).