The top 16 in my state are not the elite. They are the ones most actively playing in tourneys and leagues. Rather than charging an extra dollar, I intend to subtract $1 per player from the prize pool. I am confident that the active players in my state will see the value of 75% of that dollar going directly to the state prize pool. Only 25% of that dollar goes to Nationals, of which every participating state has a chance to send a player.
I know that all regions are not like mine. This affects every region differently. I play locally and travel to some events. The number of "free entry" tourneys I've played in over the last several years..... zero.