I, for one, actually prefer the standoffs to be optional. I had a GTX285 once that I couldn't get to fit with the standoffs. I don't know why, I think that there was either a few Mosfets that weren't quite as tall as they should be or some other part sticking out where it shouldn't. Anyway: after trying a few times to get it right and failing, I removed the standoffs and then it worked without a problem.