I like the idea behind this game
I'd like to play, I'm not a completely green noob as I've played a fair amount of sp but I've only finished one mp game. There aren't many LA nations I'd be interested in playing though.
I'd prefer 24 hour quickhost at the beginning but I can live with 48. Of the maps you listed I would prefer Cradle, but I think Orania would probably be better suited to the scenarion (wrap around maps drive me crazy). I think a fixed start version should be made though for whatever map is used, to put players on different sides. Or you could put the experienced players in the middle surrounded by the inexperienced players, though honestly I wouldn't do that.
Victory by elimination or surrender sounds good.
I think the 9:3 version would probably work better. Idea: What if the noob team had a more experienced player leading it, coordinating battle plans and there to advise the noobs? This would work better with the 8:4 version. They could also be given a less powerful nation to offset the advantage of having them on the noob team.