Like the posts asks, what do you mean by serious racers? Does this include paid professionals? That is already there and how will that affect people’s idea of racing?

In my experience just thinking something is fast provides some edge. The greatest threat this class is experiencing right now is this forum and the continual class slander campaign about an uber boat coming along and destroying everything. If this is really a concern, do not join, if it isn’t, buy what you feel is the best boat for you and show up at some events.
The big players already have similarly classed boats that have had very limited marketing success. Why would the class wish to dumb down their rules to go this direction? If a big player comes in and can wield their customer loyalty base to sell a lot of boats we will see a fracture in the class. Its growth to date is not because of a big builder pushing their idea of a product and many will likely continue to run light and development rules should the “class” change its direction. The big builders see this I am sure and it is 1 more reason they are not interested in pursuing this path right now.
The most successful catamaran classes recently are Formula based and brand competition within this framework is a good thing. New models will continue to be assumed better than the old. If you are afraid of buying in to something and getting obsolete, or no longer being competitive, then do not sail a formula class, go find one of the 1 design classes. Within the rule set, no amount of money is going to build a boat that is significantly faster, and if it is that expensive, there will be no more than a few, which would do nothing to detract from those buying an F16 from continuing to sail. Weight is probably the single biggest factor in determining performance on equivalently rigged boats. The more than slightly overweight Viper can still win races. The idea (marketing spin) that you have to have weight, or that it equates to better properties or a performance gain for the class is absurd. The reports from the sailors who test sailed the Viper and Falcon at the GC came back and said the Falcon was equally if not stiffer than the Viper. F18 beams are heavy for an F18 for what they provide in stiffness. Using them in an F16 is just a matter of convenience not necessity. Super hull volume is good (and only to a point )for carrying heavier crews and heavier boats. Fatter can be slower. A true boat designed for uni would have hulls a lot closer to an A not an F18. Properly applied stiffness is faster, yes, but all these discussions, including weight, are about a VERY small amount of difference, that 99% of sailors will not be able to realize or likely even recognize. AHPC is spending a lot of money promoting and placing top teams on their boats to make sure they keep podium finishes. This is helping the class but it is not the class – sailors are. If they decide that it is economically beneficial to abandon the Viper for a min weight, designed for the class, F16 will that kill the class? Bundy and Carolijn on a Viper will still win; did the Wildcat, C2 or any of the many NACRA F18s kill that class? Did the Flyer kill the A class?
Obviously no one is going to provide a logical argument to you that will change your mind on these issues that have taken on an almost religious flavor. If you want to help the class how would you do it? AND the rules are done, so coming and trying to get the class to change their rules is not an acceptable answer. If that is how you feel, please go play on the F18 forum.