The point of the rule ultimately is to increase scoring. The hold your ground rule or whatever its called was brought in for the same reason. To create more scoring.
I think attendance figures are a pretty good indication the product isn't the worst it's ever been
If you actually believe that the manipulated attendance figures are a reasonable indication of what people think then the PR machine has another victim.
If there was a poll up about whether footy was better ~15 years ago now atleast 50% would agree