I hear you on the major playoff. And I totally agree you can’t change the rules on it now. I never intended to ask for that. I only meant for future years.
I’m concerned that you get a scenario something like this:
Player 1 is 16-2
Player 2 is 15-9 but isn’t playing anymore
Player 3 is 4-10
Player 4 is 3-11
Player 5 is 3-11
This is actually a very possible scenario for 2012. Now what you’ve done by having a major playoff is taken Player 1 (which is you!) out of the “real” playoff with the other 3 best players of the year. This is the dilution I’m talking about.
Basically by having a major playoff, you are diluting the talent in the “minor” playoff by taking some of the best players out.
All that said, I personally don’t get charged up about the playoff, and have actually considered intentionally not qualifying by not playing enough different players this year. Or if I did qualify, I may decline my playoff spot.
You assume that all players’ motivations are to get into the playoffs, when in fact the opposite may be true.
I think a number of players play in league just to be a part of the standings, and to have an “official” record of their games. And to follow the same game rules and have moderators, etc. So if I start off the year with 3 or 4 losses, I’m not discouraged from playing because of the great difficulty of qualifying for the playoffs. In fact, I would be motivated to play a lot more games so that my record doesn’t look so bad.
What do you think now?