Then the sport in general is doomed.

You can understand if the teams with "top level riders" are reluctant to part with them... Their rents won't drop yet their admission costs will need to, to reflect the significant drop in standard of the riders on view, and crowds wont increase to cover the reduction in admission charge, riders costs may drop but would crowds match the ones delivered with the top riders there?  Sponsors also may only want to be involved with the "top riders" and could either pull their money completely or reduce it due to, again, the drop in levels.. So many teams need so many different scenarios... A proper self inflicted cluster eff...

In the context of Plymouth I don't think it's that odd. If you supported a football club who'd been on the brink of extinction, had a few iffy seasons and was now in the process of rebuilding, increasing crowd numbers and growing, I think you'd be pretty happy. Add in some entertaining home games, a safe mid table finish, even happier.  I think it'd be weird if Plymouth fans were happy finishing bottom 3 every season, but they're going in the right direction, so it's fair enough they can find some positives.

But then your argument is hamstrung by the fact that there are probably only 4 teams that can afford the “Top Riders” anyway: BV, Ipswich, Glasgow and Poole (I would include Sheffield but too much uncertainty). And as has been said you can’t run a Premiership with 4 teams, so you would then expect another 2-4 teams to prop up the league so them four teams can compete for the title year-in-year out…

Well there seem to be a load of happy Sheffield Wednesday fans at the moment and they are certain to be relegated along with having a poor season. Sometimes sport is not about winning.  i also know plenty of Reading fans that were not that upset about being relegated as it helped changed the direction of the club. So there’s two for you. I expect a team like Plymouth, not running at a big loss and being able to come to the tapes the following season is seen as a success. Now, teams like Poole and Glasgow this is not the case. Anyway, would you have classed Plymouth winning the title and going bust a successful season?

I get what you’re saying if it’s “off the peg” signings like many teams do but if you sign a couple of 3.00ers, a 4.50, and 7.50 then invest time and money on developing those riders to GP or FIM gold standard then it should be right you can keep them rather than help feather the nest of other clubs that operate outside of our mindset.