Chad, you are without question closer to the F3A decision makers, but I'd suggest that the decision to not bid for the F3A worlds had less to do with critisism than it did with a feeling that the event could not break even. Suggestions otherwise are misplaced.
Similar to scale, F3A requires judges to be brought in and housed ... that makes it hard to balance the books for sure. I also understand that there is a lot more ceremony with the F3A events than sailplane typically has (and definately more than We had.)
This is a complex issue, but it is also fair to say that the board would not likely have approved another world champs in Tilsonberg (I heard, but could be wrong, that was where the event was to be held) without a solid budget showing a surplus. Protecting against unforseen losses is one thing, incurring in planned deficit is another...
The biggest problem with the nationals is that it is next to impossible to find people to run them. If BC backs out because of manpower, will Gerry Shaw step in to do it all again in a year's time? We need to be in a position to promote these events all year long. If the Nats reports in the mag can't point to the 2006 event, we're missing promotional value. If the event isn't held with the publishing schedule in mind and if the event co-ordinator won't provide timely information ... we're also missing the boat!
I know of a handful of people that are already planning for the Vancouver Nats in 2006 ... let's hope they happen.