I was there a couple of weeks ago applying for visas for the family. Yes they were turning lots of people away, me included. We were going to Beijing instead of the usual Shenzhen, so needed hotel reservations and plane tickets. Another European student who was planning on taking the bus from Wanchai, was asked for bus tickets. She left in tears.
I applied last year for my son for a school trip. The school provided a letter detailing the trip which we submitted with our application. This was enough and didn't have to answer any additional questions or produce a ticket.
I completed the 2013 online form which they accepted