Look at it like the 3 point line in college basketball. The players got better so they moved the line farther from the basket, now you have to be able to shoot better to make the ball.
Guess what, poolplayers are getting better. We're talking top pros not short stops. You don't see PBA bowlers throwing on league pattern pins do you? You know why that is, that makes it a coin flip. A pure crap shoot makes it less about pool and more about the other things that shouldnt determine the winner of a match.
We all got to see a good example the last few days. What if Bartrum was playing these pros on a table with 4" pockets, I'll tell you what I guarantee those matches would have turned out different. CB plays 99% perfect for long periods of time on the equipment of his choice. Even pro cut diamonds have some extra fluff to them, we all know that. Now play on a table tight enough where you may normally fire at a ball, but on this table you have to play a safety. That's pool. It wont be a run out show or break contest, it will be a chess game at the highest level. JA doesnt have the nuts against SVB but what JA does have is more experience. I'd happily bet on JA if this went off because when you cant fire every ball in and have to put some thought to your entire game no one on the planet is gonna out move JA. OK I think I can lay this topic to bed in my own head now.