I think any move toward NCA style is a HUGE mistake. Keep them separate as they should be. They are two very distinct styles and they both should be maintained. I for one love the more traditional UCA style and do not care for the NCA "dance" style. Cheerleaders cheer, first and foremost!
Also new this year - as I have been told - ALL teams will have to go through prelims and not get a pass straight through to finals. Can't offer any proof of that but my daughter told me that yesterday.
As for the new way bids are awarded, in my mind, its another way to level the playing field and bring folks to a more competitive chance against UK. Until last year (or year before) UK hadn't finished first in taping perhaps ever. Call me biased, but these moves are partially to loosen UK's dominance in UCA. And it will probably work.