People have a justifiable reason to be upset when this happens... what people are also ignoring is that even if WGT reimburses them their entry fee -- WGT still comes out ahead because players playing in the more competitive divisions are investing time and ball hits.
You realize what the rough cost is to play 15 games in a 3 hole coin game? 3 qualifier, 6 for the cut, and another 6 for the final.
With a high end ball, which some may very likely use... you are looking at 176.2 - 264.3 credits in ball use for a high end ball!
Great - you get reimbursed but you are completely out of your ball hits and your time - yet WGT has come out ahead.
If I can give you $5 while you giving me $10 back I would make that trade every day.
Yes, we may be appeased with an entry fee, but I think people would be much happier to say - keep the entry fee and just FIX the issues and restore some faith or trust in the integrity of the showdown events. They have a ton of potential and give mobile players and PC EA / STEAM players something to play for. It is just discouraging to see the same problems persist every showdown.