So Rick and Mary

Aside from Money, the current problem is that the qualifiers are irrelevant to the majority of competitive racers.

Are you saying that a major reason is that these racers don't compete in qualifiers because it's no fun to compete against the class winners as well as the other area winners ... should they win?

I have to say reasons raised in this thread like;

We are over scheduled...One more regatta is just not doable, especially one where I might have to travel 4+ hours.

My One Design nationals will always get my time and money over the USSA championship.

I sail a blah blah type of boat (sloop or single handed) and the championship is always on a spin boat so I am not competitive on a spin boat and not interested in getting crushed or the championship was on a simple boat and the spin rock stars simply did not want to play.

The Alter Championship is for sailors who don't have a big national OD championship to anchor their sailing season.

The PN ratings have boats with sweat heart ratings and so the qualifier is predetermined.

Are much more plausible... and problems that you can come up with solutions for!