I’m not missing it, I just see it in a different light, that’s all. Yes, I was fortunate enough to see that match in person, and the joy of watching it was only surpassed by listening to Mika cry like a girl afterwards.
It’s clear that those that are “tinkering with the rules” are the promoters, to as you say, “create a game that will attract an audience”. That’s where the rub is though. I believe what some perceive as interesting to watch is quite different from what others find interesting.
As Stu alluded to in what he has discovered talking to others, most prefer winner breaks over alternating breaks, one of the things they’ve experimented with, as most seem to enjoy watching skilled players run packages, I’m in that camp as well. I find nothing more pleasing than watching a player that has honed his skill ply his craft to its full potential, it’s like art to me, it’s magical.
Then there are those that prefer to watch back and forth battles edging to hill-hill or very close matches. Sometimes those occur in what often start as lopsided matches. Most recently the match between SVB and young phenom Hayden Ernst at the DCC. It started as expected with SVB dominating and taking a commanding lead, only to have an error lead to young Hayden taking full advantage of the unexpected opportunity and nearly overcoming what seemed an insurmountable lead against all odds. The kid showed moxie, he’s got heart.
At the end of the day, it’s all what you like. Many love watching the Mosconi Cup with its loud and rowdy crowds that is uncharacteristic from normal tournament play crowds, I find it a disgrace, an insult to the game. That this bizarre behavior that is seemingly encouraged at that event as being an experiment by MR to see if that is what you refer to as “a way to attract an audience”. To me, appealing to the unwashed masses, the lowest common denominator, is a pox on this beautiful game I love. I mean, when visiting New York more people eat at hot dog carts on a street corner rather than at Peter Lugers Steakhouse, but what the majority does isn’t what I find appealing.
This is a niche game, always has been, and I believe always will be. There are those like us that are completely enamored of this game from the first moment we experienced it, then there’s the majority of people who don’t get it or see its beauty. To make it mainstream, you have to appeal to that majority, and turn it into a circus to make it interesting for them, which makes it into something it’s not, and ruins it for those who truly love it. That’s my take anyway.