So here's what I'm thinking....
To make the rules committee and Nat's handlers happy...No sportsman class at Nat's.
To make Sportsman drivers happy...make it a nationally recognized and regulated class, but leave the rules as they are.
Now for the details...
The people most interested in sportsman are those who either A) can't afford to go pro (noobs, financially strapped people who love the sport), B) love their shafties but hate competing against moa's, C) aren't serious enough to worry about whether or not they place well, and D) can't travel too far.
There are also those who do compete at a national level who enjoy sportsman, and thats fine, they have their place and are welcome to participate.
Like I said, we leave the current rules in place. There are far too many rigs set to run next season, too many new ones being built, and vendor support is already in place to make any detrimental changes.
Nat's is a big deal and a big investment. Both for the drivers, the sponsors, and the organizers. While it would be great to see a Sportsman type class there, I have to agree with what was said in the "sportsman class in nationals" thread about finding room, time, and enough drivers willing to make the trip to make it worthwhile. I personally do not see it happening, not right now anyway.
So we leave Sportsman to the local clubs and organizers. If they feel there is enough interest, let them hold regional comps. Integrate those into already existing comp schedules. Then, if they feel they can go further, let them have their own form of Nationals where again they would get folded into another, more centrally located event. I know some of you club leaders allow dig and moa in your sportsman classes, and thats all fine and well, but from regionals on up, national rules will apply.
This would give new drivers a reasonable goal to shoot for. I can totally see a noob working his way up to a regional event in one season. It is a reach, but still an achievable goal.
But what about the pro drivers? If they compete in another pro class, be it shafty or moa, their scores will not be factored into regional and national events. Meaning they can come and play all they want, but they will not be earned an invite to the big show. That takes pressure off of new and less capable drivers.
So we have rules we can live with, no added pressure on the Nat's committee, increased interest for newcomers, it promotes the sport, and no pro drivers edging out budding competitors.