I may be simplifying this but I don't think at any stage anyone was suggesting that clubmen should not enter or attempt to ride.
What the overiding principle should be is that if there is not a complete ballot (clearly not) then the manipulation of the entries should include some serious consideration to encourage newcomers as much as those that have supported it in the past when times were lean and entries easy to get. Now I don't know about Geoff Broker and whether he should be in (every year ) or out, how well he rides or not but if he is no great crowd draw why shouldn't he make way one year so someone else can have a go.
If the ballot, isn't, then the qualification should be transparent so everyone gets their chance, or knows why not.IMHO