Yes, no other way to look at it.
I think the next two December signing periods will set the stage for how the process is going to play out moving forward. Yes, this year's, the first of its kind, will be instructive, but anyone who is even the least bit tentative will just wait until the first Wednesday in February to sign per the usual.
It's the Class of 2019, though, that will make things interesting, because that's also the first class that will get to take summer official visits.
Lot of risk involved with the new signing date any way you slice it though, no doubt.