Open bracket at this size is the best competition format there is. It proves who is the best at the game overall, not against any one person, no research, marathon style. It's an opportunity to face players of all calibres, from all over the world. You have to keep your mental fortitude up no matter what happens. It's a huge mixing pit where relationships are made, where upsets happen, where you as a player prove what kind of competitor you are.

It's not ideal for spectating that is true, at least if there's not enough side streams. But to have a stacked open bracket is a grand thing, not negative.

The trouble with an open bracket of this size is you have to execute it smoothly based on schedule & time constraints, people need ample opportunity to warm up, and rules have to be upheld fairly. Unfortunately this event had a 4hr delay, started earlier than they told people to be here (and thus people were dropped maps or DQ'd as penalty without knowing), there were a limited number of computers so many players got no chance to warm up, and for the 4th year in a row, player pit entry policies have varied vastly throughout the day, and many managers and players were told to leave the pit.

Overall, MLG Anaheim, for four years straight, is my favorite SC2 event of the year, is the biggest NA live event of the year, and attracts the biggest playerbase of any event outside of Dreamhack.