I don't necessarily believe it is the 'right way' to do it - there will never be a format which pleases everybody. It is however a tried and tested format which works all over the US and Europe, (many here will have played in the classics at the Belgian Open - qualifying here is the EXACT same format) and similar complaints are voiced over there at times regarding the pot, but to attract the best players there needs to be an incentive to travel.
It also isn't personally what I want from a competition - I prefer qualifying to be a single attempt at multiple games, in a league format, then have 4 player (PAPA style) semi and finals.
This isn't what people said they wanted - hence the change. People said they didn't want the same format as last year - hence the change. People said they wanted - from a show, rather than a dedicated comp, enough time to see the seminars, enough time to socialise, enough time to play the new machines. This format allows for that as well as allowing people who want to buy multiple tickets and focus their time on the comp the option to do so.
The major factor here isn't divisions - it is huge tournament. When the number of entrants starts getting up to 800 I'm sure whoever is running the comp will be willing to look at divisions.
There are always also major complaints about machines being in the competition and not available for 'general use'. Limiting the number of games to only 10 (1 x EM, 2 x Alpha-numeric, 3 x DMD & 4 New Stern/JJP), ideally chosen from games where multiple machines have been pledged, reduces that complaint. This format allows for a large throughput of those people wanting to play, without massive queues.
It is a big enough undertaking to run any comp, without having the logistics of running 2, let alone a 3rd classics comp, where suitable - tournament worthy machines are always low on availability, as seen from past shows and the current machine pledge page for NLP in a month.
