alanti: they rely on the philosophy that there is a fool born every minute.......sadly it is true.
True!
Nevertheless, the event is soaring.
One hour before the end, when some CCs can't play another Clash, the approximated numbers are stunning:
Georgian far in front with 260,000 points, Silver Dollar follow-up, 208,000.
3rd place @126,000, 4th @63,000 (That was enough to win "in the Olde Days").
100th >12,000, 200th >7,200 points. (We used to be 140th with less.)
So, the three leaders collected 600,000 points.
The next 197 share about 3,500,000 (*), averaging to 18,000 per CC.
(*) in an Adam Riese type of estimation.
The only explanation that I have is the Course Builders - they may be attractive enough (at 400 cr value) to draw the participation.