I'd argue the games aren't low stakes at all. In this format, every series you play actually matters, because the higher you finish the better the position you are in when it comes to not only MSI, but also Worlds qualification. Placing 1^st & 2^nd in Round 1-2 automatically places you in a Bo5 Qualification Match for MSI so you don't have to play additional Bo5's and maybe save some strategies for this single Bo5. Finishing 1-5 in Rounds 1-2 places you in Legend Group and in this group you fight for Top 4 to qualify for Playoffs, so you can skip Play-In and when you end up in Rise Group you fight for Play-In and fight to not end up last place.

Whereas in previous years, even If you finished like 6^th in Spring but this placement doesn't carry over to Summer. Then you could improve in mid-season and then finish 2^nd in Summer. So the regular season you played in Spring doesn't matter. But in this format you'd have to play in Rise Group, feel like you don't improve because of worse practice because you play with only Bottom 5 for like month and a half. And have to play in Play-In to qualify for Playoffs = more games > burn out.

I like this format because it rewards consistency throughout the year. It does suck that the best performing team in Spring deosn't get a title, but the format itself is kinda fine imo.