I'm an old guy ... one of that regular group of old guys that always plays on that table up front ... that every good hall has. The only advice we received was from the other old guys we played with. Until ... one of the 20 somethings who thought he was hot stuff needed a cue and I loaned him my...
My criteria ... they must be a good player, must not have an attitude, they must know how to listen, observe and teach. Their competition status means nothing to me.
Technical arguments aside ... I think players use what they're used to and what they trust. Any change that effects that perception won't be favored by the player.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where it doesn't get that humid ... and have a 9 foot Connelly Ultimate with 860 in my garage and for sure ... it plays frustratingly slow.
I live in CA. All the halls I used to play at have long passed. In addition to what has already been said ... none of them were great money makers even at their peak ... rent, tripple-net and other expenses are high here even in lousy locations ... and neither the landlords or the city were...
I'll gamble at Golf on our 6 X 12. Rarely at 9 ball ... I just don't enjoy it ... and gambling sometimes brings out the "jerk" in some players ... which is something I won't tolerate.