As with the rest of the thread, lot's of insults and name-calling but no answers to my questions:

Exactly why else should I care?
#1. You don't have to care, get lost.

What do they do for the sport that impacts Joe-Age-Grouper?
#2. They impact, help and inspire thousands of AG'ers everyday. I remember my 2nd 70.3 on course watching Mirinda run like a women possessed and loving it/inspiring me. I love seeing Crowie and Macca race, Pete Jacobs crush it, Leanna Cave finally win, Williamson's running a 2:54 in Texas heat all making the seemingly impossible possible? This is great theatre.

If there was no such thing as a pro, would these races stop?
#3. At first no, you got me. Eventually, Ironman would go away and be sold. Mark my words.

Would the courses be not as good?
#4. No, the course would be fine until AG'ers get sick of paying large entry fees, then the venues quality decreases.

Tell me why I should worry about their income and expenses.
#5. Because there are Mothers and Fathers and people like us that CAN'T make a living for their families doing what they love. It's all about heart, do you not have one?

Cue the silence.