I think removing discards is a bad idea. Sailing is an equipment sport, and equipment will break no matter how well done your maintenance program is. Just this last Tornado worlds Bundy/Ashby had a jib halyard snap, dropping their jib. Last Miami OCR the then T worlds champs had their mainsheet cascade blow up. Pre olympics in Athens, the british T team ripped their mainsail from leech to luff during a gybe (just some of the examples I could pick from the top of my head). These guys are not slackers when it comes to maintaining their gear. I am pretty sure most of us have had gear break at the most surprising times. I know I have had my share..
Do we want to decide on whos the best sailor, or who has the most bulletproof gear? Having some discards allow participants to recover from random occurances on the race course. It is a good thing in my opinion and part of the strategy game.

Regulating the format for international events is something the class will have to do eventually, to keep the competitions level and fair. Knowing what to expect is a good thing when you travel abroad for an event. I dont like the extra bureaucracy and limits it puts on organizers tough, so waiting as long as possible before it is done might be the thing to do.