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Yes I suppose so CD, but to me "unchecked" doesn't (necessarily) imply "blank". A grid with all cells filled still can have unchecked letters. I would have preferred "unfilled" - but I guess that would have made this puzzle far too easy :)

I agree that the preamble wasn't totally clear on the point but it must have been tricky to write the preamble for such a complex puzzle in such a way as to not give too much away. I'm going to give the benefit of doubt to Enigmatist and the Editors.

As ever, the preamble only really makes sense once the puzzle is complete!

Thanks Loge, that's the word I have/had but couldn't quite make it fit. Will revisit my down entries...

I agree with loge regarding the fully blank cells - there are other 'unchecked' cells that are not completely blank.
I think the preamble was composed to create more confusion and offer the minimum help possible. There should have been more clarity given how tortuous the whole process has been - from cold-solving clues with barely any worplay to entering answers with a certain degree of flexibility in places.

Thanks for the hints Loge, got them both now. I often struggle with extra letter/misprint clues but it's the first time I've met clues where the wordplay gives only a couple of letters.

I have the following clashes, 6 in row 3, 1 definite, maybe 4, in row 5 and 3 in row 7. To prevent me wasting more time grid staring, could someone please verify the accuracy of this?

gitto - not sure that is the best approach and is not the simplest question to answer.

As has been mentioned by others, I would highlight the 24 ignored letters and then do some grid staring to see if you can identify the characters

Hi CD, I've done that and all the extra letters in down answers and all clashes are in a large rectangle, outside of which everything meshes perfectly. I am still desperately unhappy with the "what mates at work" clue but hopefully if the PDM ever arrives I can resolve that dilemma. To me, this is a crossword that has crossed the line with a painfully unhelpful preamble, 4 answers not in the dictionary and cluing that doesn't even refer to all the letters, especially that bloody archaic game clue. My wife bought me a Mister Grumpy cup for Christmas, probably brought about by puzzles like this.

Agree with CD, gitto, it's too scientific an approach, best advice was from Loge, to highlight the 24 letters and things should become clearer quickly.
If it helps, the 24 letters run in 5 straight-line blocks from or through the rectangular zone.
To sum up, this was like completing a jigsaw with more than its first share of blue sky, no edge pieces and blindfold! As others have commented, not worth the effort in terms of the thematic material..... But each to their own I guess.

Well at least my 24 letters are in the right place.