I see this thread still going.
Simply put the APA is the the death of real pool. A gigantic money grab for league ops and the APA corporation. Player payouts are pathetic, getting a couple hundred for travel to Vegas and a 5 inch trophy. Dumbed down game on dumbed down tables.
While I agree that the APA may be "dumbing" down the game by catering to the amateur while returning very little money back to the league player, I adamantly disagree that the APA is the death of real pool.
It is precisely those APA amateurs that after joining a league go out and buy predator cues, molinari gloves, kamui chalk, etc .. That revenue then finds its way back to support events such as the Predator 10 ball world championships along with the pro players who enter those events.
It's hard to find any evidence that amateur leagues such as the APA do anything but help pro pool.