With the X Ball we can do play offs when we have 8, 9 and 12 teams as we can do small group for prelims and then for play offs like round 1. Problem is with drop outs, no shows it always a nightmare to plan, and with groups of 5, the only way to do play offs is to do extra games which is more of a financial drain for the less well off teams. With X Ball it is a large financial drain on teams so we apreciate it is hard to comit with the curent economic climate. Personally i prefer a finals so you have an outright winner with no issues of easy groups etc etc.