I don't think they have enough 2017 quota left to be issuing any more NOIs in 2017, given the low number of nominations left and the high number of people like me who missed out on the July 25 deadline and have been waiting every day for this reopening to submit our applications. And given that they say any NOIs issued from now onward will expire in 45 days or on December 31, whichever is sooner, I think they are not trying to get a head start on 2018 but just trying to fill the 2017 quota while being willing to hold extra ones for 2018. However, CIC and OINP have shown themselves to be unpredictable, so who knows. In any case, they will resume issuing normal NOIs in 2018 (i.e., valid for at least 6 months).
I agree to this statement. There are lot of people also sitting on their NOI as they thought that the score would go down again. And now they are rushing to make it happen. I also think that that maintenance part will be more or less to count how many applications did they receive.
I think there were more cases just like you (having all ready and just waiting for them to reopen).
There is also one major change in their approach - change of the validity of NOI.
Honestly those 6 months brought lot of uncertainty in their calculations (they have issued lot of NOI and unlike declining ITA, there is no chance for them to know it the person who receive it is interested or not). Giving such long period for people to decide practically prevents them to issue new NOI in a timely manner.
So since you do not need PCC or medical for Ontario, most documents should be ready (ECA and language tests are the requirement for EE itself).
So I find it more just to give same reaction time for both streams (French speakers and HCP).