The GM at my dealership said that all their orders just go in with default status. In the "good old days", they would just pull them in the order they were entered into the system. Now, with all these endless issues, it's very unpredictable. Priority code means nothing if one had any option that had a supply issue. The chip shortage and anything that could be added post-build was interesting because it generally didn't hold up the actual production piece, but it was almost better if it did because it was more frustrating to have the vehicle built and sitting in a lot waiting on a chip than it was just waiting for a build date. Some orders would actually start production later, and get shipped while the other one remained sitting in the lot waiting on that missing whatever!
Based on what he was told by his zone rep, at that time, our orders could be here in mid to late January, but don't be disappointed if it's February. If anything major happens, all bets are off. They are trying to schedule builds based on parts "on hand" or known to be fully available on that build date. They don't want to end up with a ton of vehicles sitting in the lot again if they don't have to. So those they know can be fully built and shipped will likely go first, then, if it comes down to keeping the plant running, even if a chip is missing, they'll go back to rolling them out and parking them until the final pieces can be added. My buddy and I both ordered at the same time, same dealer. Mine has the auto-stop delete (which I have no idea why THAT would be a problem, LOL), my buddy has the blue seats, and tonneau cover. We both have spray-in bedliners. All of those are supposedly supply issue items. Dealer said one of us could theoretically get the truck a month before the other if any of those unique options gets really backed up. It's quite a mess right now.
It will be really interesting to see if anyone here waiting on a clean order gets a production date tomorrow, when the first scheduling for 2022 F150's begins.