It is a major step forward for pro pool that, at the Matchroom majors, only the WNT touring pros are guaranteed a spot.
Many of us reminisce about the days of "show up and you get to play" in the US Open, in which the hobbyist (perhaps Fargo 725 or less) could enter and say he/she played in the US Open. Those days are gone, and it is about time. WNT pros and qualifiers make up most of the field now, and that has brought the event to a higher level.
While I cannot vouch for it, my sense of things is that the Matchroom majors have evolved to the point that they are no longer dependent on dead money players (Fargo 725 or less) to make the business model work. As a fan, I had always hoped that it would turn out that way, as it brings stronger fields than ever before.
Hobbyists can still play in numerous events that offer Matchroom ranking points and, if they are good enough, can find themselves with a very solid WNT ranking that will eventually earn them a chance to become a WNT pro.
Let the good times roll.