I know most of you don’t care, but how can it be that a 10:41 at Nov IM Arizona would receive more than 2 pts higher than a 10:38 at Hawaii. Hawaii was a MUCH tougher course and day.
I believe it doesn’t go based on course or conditions. It’s relative to a group of “pacers”. Takes course and conditions out of the equation.
Same way you can’t compare FL 70.3 times to St. Croix 70.3 times (granted, St.Croix 70.3 isn’t USAT)
Hard to make sense sometimes, but to illustrate an example: say 1000 people did AZ and all were over 10:41, and a 1000 people did Hawaii, and all were under 10 hours, except the 10:38… As you can see, course and conditions really do not matter, but who showed up to race…I don’t know the paticulars of your example(who was there, and what times they put op in the AG), but you can see how it could happen and still be legit…
Not to say that some of the rankings do not come out right, I’ve seen some pretty funny stuff over the years…
So then it is much better from a points point of view to do a race where there are not as many fast people. People who are doing Hawaii are penalized for the fact that almost everyone there is fast. If you look at individual racers their Hawaii points are lower than their other races.
I don’t pay attention to the rankings, but most ranking systems have a hard time with outliers. I suspect you are correct, that everyone being fast (because of qualification) makes the rankings for that race low.
At one time you got AA rating if you were top 10 in a national champioship. Not sure if they still have that, but it makes sense.
Styrrell
I doubt anyone will pass up a Kona slot cause you are likely to get less points there.
Actually in 2010, everyone in 45-49, you SHOULD ALL PASS UP YOUR KONA SLOTS cause you will get didly USAT points 
Yep, in 2007 I scored more points at IMAZ with a 9:43 finish than I did that same year at Kona with a 9:40 finish. At IMAZ I finished 25th and was the 7th amatuer overall. At Kona I finished 165th and way 101st amatuer.