I fail to understand the complaints about reducing the number of qualifying attempts but keeping the entry fee the same, they are completely separate topics. This was always a flat fee tournament, so the size of the fee only relates to the size of the prize pool, nothing else.

I do understand that only 2 attempts on each game introduces randomness in the outcome, it's a reasonable concern, but with limited time and limited qualifying bank there is no other choice. Next year the organizers will need to be creative about handling the number of players, and whatever the solution (fixed qualifying attempts, match play, separate tournaments), it will require a larger number of games. For now the format looks to be the best they can offer.