Different people have different views of what Worlds' purpose should be. How you view that drives your opinion on a bunch of these issues.
Most common views of what should be the main purpose of Worlds:
1. Determine / award the strongest, most elite teams in our sport in the highest divisions.
2. Promote the sport generally and add divisions as needed to foster the most total growth.
3. Generate revenue for USASF and/or IASF to fund salaries/projects/initiatives/etc.
4. Protect/enhance the value of the USASF board members' premier (bid-giving) events
These aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but how you prioritize them can determine your opinion of things like: How many divisions should be at Worlds, how you weight categories, how geography affects results, etc.
Agreed, but #1 is where athletes and fans are going to keep their focus, whereas a governing body has to consider all four of your points.
#1 The Nordic ski winner can't necessarily win the Jumping or Cross Country ski event, but has the talent to win it combined. Does that make the Nordic skier more or less talented or deserving of a medal? Begin the never ending debate. Cheer can be similar and I don't buy into "I've seen the NT teams this year and they aren't deserving" logic. The NT5 division, if it gains interest, will eventually out stunt the L5 combined just because that's what happens when specific talents and training are honed in on. Gymnastic trained tumblers and trained dancers are some of AS's biggest critics, because AS technique
generally lacks in comparison, but that's because of the time and expense it takes to cross train. Cross trained athletes are extremely impressive, but their individually trained counterparts are equally impressive to most fans.
#2, #3 and #4 are the realities no one wants to address. #2 Youth football could not gain interest internationally, not just because of violence (rugby is violent), but because of cost to dress an athlete, cost of resources to be competitive and the cost of injury physically and financially. Internationally, it's not about catching up in skills, that happens fairly quickly, it's about the wealth and talent pool it takes to catch up to be competitive (D1/D2 debate). The US is a wealthy country, tumble training and injuries are expensive. Provide a NT option in cheer, gain more interest and talent not only abroad, but across a larger economic pool in the US, as well. #3 and #4 Truth, everyone wants to get paid, have benefits and job security, but no one wants to pay the prices it takes for anyone else to get the same. Another truth, if you don't protect/enhance the value of your business, there will be someone else that will acquire it or do a version better than you. People are legitimately complaining about the cost of youth sports, but geez people, heaven forbid a governing body offer a more cost effective option that has the ability to be equally impressive at an elite level and include people in a wider economic range.
