As you know IM wasn't born in Kona and there isn't anything intrinsic with Kona. Given enough time, promotion and media content IM can probably rebuild that aura anywhere.

I get it that some people are motivated by the "exclusivity", I really do, but I and many others am not.

IM is clearly compromising with the split location thing right now. Trying to keep a foot in each shoe between exclusivity and growing the sport.

I won't pretend that I don't get a mini ego boost when the topic that I've raced Kona comes up when making acquaintances. But most people in the real world can hardly tell the difference between a marathon and a 5k so all of what we are talking about is nuances to the general public. When explaining what an Ironman is to a non-triathlete, there would be no difference between saying the real numbers, half of it or 10x more. It's all mind bogglingly impossible in their mind.

In truth, if I'm racing a WC I care about the experience and that I'm racing against the best in the world who showed up so that I can see how I stack up. I don't want it to be constrained by who can afford it or who can afford enough days of heat and time zone acclimation in a remote ocean island.

I also care much more that the sport grows and more people get into an active lifestyle for life.

By the way, the old slot allocation process wasn't without its quirks. As a European you only needed to travel to the right races to qualify (typically races in America, preferably if the 'championships' with double slots).