By "waiting list" do you mean you put your name down, and then without doing anything else just wait?
If so...I think unfortunately the general answer is no, that is not possible. When people say "wait list" they may mean they tell their SA what bags they want (i.e. start a wishlist), then they will keep shopping with the SA while waiting for that bag to appear.
You definitely need to buy other stuff besides the bag like 99.99% of the time. Buying just a bag without anything else ever is either a miracle (which does happen, but you know what "miracle" means...) or FSH appointment luck (you can check out the Paris thread for the system specific to that store). But in either of those cases you are not really guaranteed a specific color/leather/size/hardware. If you have one specific bag combo you want, you probably need to build relationship with an SA (and yes, that means shopping with them by spending money on things), or go reseller. More touristy stores tend to work with a "drop 1:1 on the spot and a bag will appear" method, whereas less touristy places tend to value long-term customers who come by frequently. There is a reason reseller prices for H bags - the desirable sizes/colors - are higher than retail. It's because getting them at retail is not for everyone.
If anything, I feel that getting a bag has only been becoming harder in recent years. I don't know how COVID might affect this (I don't know if anyone knows), but while it probably has some impact I don't think it's changed anything drastically.
In conclusion, if you are against buying anything other than the bag you want & have a specific bag in mind, reseller would be your best option. If you are open to develop an H relationship or only want directly from boutique purchases, then start with your local store & find an SA you enjoy working with. Good luck!