ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
I am/was not in favor of changing the weight rule, especially with all the new e-pattern planes coming out - there will be a plethora of new and used options within the next few years. That being said, I ran a little poll a month or two ago, and was pretty shocked at how many people said they wouldn't attend, or were on the fence about attending NATS, due to a heavy plane.
I have a modern e-pattern plane, a Visa. It has a new Pletty Advance, CC Ice 80 esc, assembled as light as possible with a CF spinner, carbon battery and rudder tray, feather light wheels, CF prop, and a 4900mAh F3a pack. This is 130g over weight! To fly in the nats, I would need a 4400 TP pack or less, which is pushing it on a windy day. I don't see what we are accomplishing with the 5Kg limit. I would bet half or more of maters pilots in D7 ate over as well.
Dale