> Item #2: Yes, it could be said the decision cost another team a
> playoff berth at last year's ICT. On the other hand, how many
times
> has the last qualifier for the playoffs won an NAQT event?
Well even if it's never happened before, even if it would have taken
a superlative performance on the order of Subash to come back from
last in the bracket, the point is: that team was denied the chance.
They won't get to be the first bc they never had the option
presented to them, bc of this very very sweet deal. And frankly
that you think this about teams who may not be great in prelims but
have as good a shot as anyone in playoffs when all things are equal
is a little troubling.