What is the purpose of this rule?
I believe it is an attempt "to grow the sport" but once again AWSA focuses on the few....It all started with the Olympics back in the 1980s! News flash we are never getting in! The focus needs to be on how to get more of the level 3-7 people to tournaments....I remember when I was a kid there was a novice and class C in each division....where did this go? Also when did getting your name on some list somewhere become award for skiing a tournament? Give the skiers a reason to go to a tournament again!!!
In my opinion this rule looks like the rules committee can't win so they are kicking the competition out, I'm not saying this is the reason but it is the perception. Remember a vast majority of these elite skiers (MM, MW) are just normal working people who may just work (at skiing) harder and/or sacrifice more than their competition.