Maybe my words came across in a way that was more argumentative than they were meant. I merely wanted to express that, in my opinion, this question was tainted with more than just a subtle curiosity on your part. It is hard to imagine that someone in your position, and with your track record on certain issues, would just post up a question like this without a) Already knowing what the vast majority are going to say and b)without having a secondary argument already lined up.
It would appear that as this thread has progressed, we are beginning to see the true reasons behind it. As people are proving, they are more interested in single, one off events at the cost of overall series contentions. There are a very select few who take the mill series seriously, and these can be found across the levels. But it is clear (and i think you knew this) that people play them for the experience and not the progression they may or may not offer.
This echoes a previous argument you made, where you mentioned ( i hope i have this right) that there are not many true tournament ballers out there. In the UK scene in particular you believed that the majority were rec ballers caught up in the wrong part of our sport. This thread seems to be the next step to that argument. People are playing the leagues for the wrong reasons and the millennium havent grasped this.
This thread is beginning to show people play for the event experience and not the series standings at the end of the year. I think you already knew this when you posted up the question.
I also believe that there is a secondary part that follows from this. Those that do want to take it seriously should still have the opportunity to do so. By opening up the leagues to a series of single events where the leagues are no longer locked, the yanks would be able (if financially possible) to come over and play. This would cement your argument about needing the yanks to come over and allow it to happen.
You have already called for certain people to use their contacts and make this kind of event happen, using the positive feed back you have generated from this thread. To me, in my opinion, this highlights the fact that you were a few steps ahead of your own argument when you posted this up. Otherwise, as mentioned, why would a poll not have sufficed. I am not calling you a liar, i just do not accept some of what you have said as the whole truth.