I agree with Mary from the perspective of actually racing and watching. I have only raced several times- Juana's regatta with one distance race (I sucked) but the next day there was 3 triangle races which were relatively short, close to shore, didn't require any serious amount of thought about the next mark (in the sense of knowing, while watching, that the boats were going there next). I had a great time doing the "simple" races that day because there wasn't such a distance between boats- so I guess my point is that maybe what would look better on TV would also, obviously, make it more interesting for someone to do. I can understand why someone wouldn't be too interested in watching the RTI which I did (but sure is interesting to look at the number of times you tacked or gybed from the GPS points)
In dumbing it down for Bubba and Cleatus- fast reaches and an occasional pitchpole might do it for them (seems like everyone on the forum likes seeing that stuff too