I'd like to add/note:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_get_sponsored_into_the_packager_grou...
is another way to become a packager.
Simply work on/with an existing maintainer on their package (submit bug
reports, help test, submit patches, etc) and then ask them if they
would like a co-maintainer (or indeed I think many maintainers will ask
you first).
kevin