Here is the current jQuery file for the above:
https://www.unix.com/scripts/js/badge.js?v=31
I'm about to call is "done" for Phase I unless anyone, including you, have logic changes for these first 24 out of 48 badges.
I think, now, the extra opacity for reserved badges is "good enough for now", and so no real reason to go to 35 badges or a reduced grid size.