Hoo boy. Please go back and read all your links to the issue. "Principal" is a term used solely in describing a candidate's position on a list used by only 30% or so of the MOCs. Additionally, the other, a competitive list is one where the top candidate can change daily up until submission deadline and is only known to USNA Admissions so there is no need to designate this candidate with a specific 'name'. The misnomer here is tht many think of him as a "Principal", which is not so. Simply the main,top, best, primary, or whatever one chooses to call him. So, on a Principal/Alternate or Principal/Competitive slate, if the principal candidate becomes ineligible through a number of factors and the slates eligible to the individual in discussion here comprise only alternates and competitives, why in the world would one use the term "Principal'? "Principal" only describes a candidate, not a nomination. I was discussing nominations. All QUALIFIED Principals receive a nomination but not all nominations by MOCs are Principals. Collectively there is no correct term. I made one up. I could have used 'top', 'best', 'primary', or any other of a dozen words, except 'Principal". Only that would have been incorrect. There is no single correct proper term published to refer to those who receive the main, first, top primary nomination from a MOC. Therefore, one should be at liberty to chose what they want. Please, no need to continue this further unless one's intent is to truly confuse.
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). Once you've done your very best, submit the application exactly as the MOC directs, do great in the interview, and hope. 
) I would venture to say the same is true of the 2 NoVa districts. The MOC can choose not to put Pres. Noms on his slate therefore he is able to have nominations to go to more kids in his district than just 10.