Nome, Wilbur, KMS, Eulalia - thanks all for the advice. Sorry for the slow response too, but I kept going off and getting lost in nappy heaven / hell.
The weenee pants concept sounds interesting, esp. as our friends-with-new-baby were just saying they couldn't possibly imagine using cloth as they are changing 15 times a day (although they only just realised that boys need to be directed South, so things might improve for them), and our other friends-with-new-baby said they stopped using cloth after a few weeks as it just didn't seem to work for them (will interrogate to understand reasons why ). Weenees are pouch pants which take an insert (either cloth or disposable) and I think the idea is you can reuse the pant for several changes and just deal with the insert for the many newborn wees... (KMS, please post if I'm talking rubbish). Will have to look into that. Sounds sensible, but not sure how different that idea is to a shaped nappy plus decent booster... KMS ?
We may well try one of the 'dazed and confused' type trial packs, or try and meet up with any nappy nutters / agents who can show me a range of bits and explain what's what. KMS: Any colleagues in NW / W central London ?) Would also be great to attend some kind of 'hands on demo sessions' where lots of different brands get presented for different aged babbas.
Just to even things out amongst the nappy advising brigade: Team Lollipop
Anyway, I'm boring myself now.