JustPlay said:This is an Open event and all players should be treated equally with the exception of the past champions. ...
JustPlay,
Your position illustrates the dilemma: does the seeding process promote equality (making the path to the finals of comparatively equal difficulty for all players) or does the seeding process promote inequality (by eliminating the blind draw)?
My opinion is that the seeding process HELPS promote equality and is GREAT for the fans; it also helps promote integrity in the game. Do we really want an Open champion who played 7 or 8 hacks to fluke his way to the title?? If players are hoping to sneak into the money by lucking into a couple of easy matches (like I am), then too bad for them (and me). Anyone who realistically is hoping to make money playing in the U.S. Open is probably good enough to be seeded (in which case they will like the seeding). I think it would be great to play Efren in the first round, and many of the thrill-seeking average players may feel the same way.
As you can tell I'm also in favor of allowing hacks like me to pay to play. We aren't damaging the equipment (at least not much), and we add to the pot.