Your point out that, in 2004, the nine dwarfs will have convention delegates pledged to them because of the modern nominating process. From that, you conclude that Hillary cannot get the nomination in 2004. If, say, Howard Dean comes into the convention with a majority of delegates pledged to him, then of course, no backroom deals will make Hillary the nominee.
But if no candidate has a majority on the first ballot, there has to be a process by which the delegates are eventually released--otherwise the dems could not nominate anyone. This eventuality could result in a HRC nomination.
One of them, most likely, at this point in time and purely coinjecture, is that Dean
WILL have the number of delegates to be the Dem presidential candidate in '04. When was the last time, that there was NOT a candidate, in either party, at convention time, to be named THE presidential candidate ? Do you know ? Was it in your lifetime ? Hint, hint ... it was 4 decades ago.
Without any delegates pleged to her, Hitlery! can NOT even be thrown into the mix. Al Sharpton would go balistic, Howard Dean would throw the hissy fit to end ALL hissy fits, and that's just for starters.
There is NO possible way, today, that none of the 9 dwarves would not have the majority needed, after the primary season, to be proclaimed the Dem candidate. That isn't a conjecture; it's a fact.