Eddy, I didn't word my comment re my 2nd place very well. I meant that I would have been guaranteed my STARTING number (No 7 in those days). Thus the qualifying wouldn't have mattered under the present system (nor under the old system), because I was a top twenty rider. (Spannerman would probably disagree!!)
In that year, I had arrived from the NW200 after a huge accident, in a poor state, was quite unwell during practice week, and did my best just to get my eye back in. I admit I was surprised that I rode well enough to finish 2nd, but I would have started from No. 7 whatever.
Under the present system, I would have been forced to ride much harder than I would have wanted to, (if I wasn't a top twenty rider, this is my point), and thus pressurised to achieve the highest starting position possible.
Eddy, you've never raced, but why would you expect a rider to do that? Under what conditions can you accept that as being reasonable? I was passed fit enough to ride, but I wasn't in my peak condition at the beginning of practice, but I didn't worry,  because there was no pressure on me. I was quoted as saying that I was just using practice to get my eye back in. That is exactly what practice is for. In fact why are the organisers calling it "practice". It should be re-named "Timed Qualifying", because it certainly isn't practice.
I don't think I'm making my point very well, but Eddy, you are not making it any easier by failing to accept anyone else's point of view.  JM130 confirmed with me that it would make no difference in a race. He is catching the slowest riders first, and there's going to be plenty of overtaking whichever way.
My only concession would be that the allocated top 20 get priority "practice", or is it "Timed Qualifying"?, slots to go out earlier in the Timed Qualifying sessions. There, that is my one concession, but that's what they've done for years, so no change there.
How the organisers can sell the programme, which is about 50% dearer than the one for the Open Golf Championship (which includes all the past winners by the way), and then send the numbered riders off in a different order is totally beyond me......AND JM130, who told me that watching anyone past the top 20 was a complete waste of time.