I may be remembering incorrectly, but aren't first and second round auto bye recipients allowed to opt to waive their auto byes?
The idea being that rather than face a two game winner to start, a Regional winner has the opportunity to have fate, and TOM, decide their pairing in a round one match up, a potentially easier match up than a first game match against a two game winner.
I know the 2 auto byes allows a Regional to avoid an early tourney-ruining first round donk, helping them toward an X-0, X-1, or X-2 record, looking toward top cut and match play.
But for those on the bubble of a Worlds invite, say a senior with 1828, wouldn't playing against potentially easier opponents in the first two rounds of Nats, then a drop, be the easier route?
I could be hugely mistaken, but I thought people could decline the auto byes.
I wish everyone played all rounds at all tourneys, all the time. I play the game for fun, and often the fun games are on the big number tables. I understand that ratings invites based on points drives a game filled with strategic drops, but I find it sad. Still, I understand that you've got to do what you've got to do, and I wish everyone the best of luck and a successful, or fun, or both, Nationals experience.